School's multi-use sports pitch plan approved

Plans for a new all-weather sports pitch at a private school in York have been approved, despite opposition from nearby residents.

City of York Council backed St Peter's School's application for a multi-use games area (MUGA) to be built at the south east edge of its Clifton campus.

The school said the facilities, which will include an pitch with markings for sports such as football, netball and tennis, would improve the health and well-being of pupils.

Plans were approved despite concerns from some residents over an increase in noise levels, saying the school's plans to avoid this problem were not robust enough.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the school said the pitch will only be available for pupils to practice on from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays, with the site closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

St Peter's said no competitive sports fixtures would be held there, nor would the pitch be flood-lit or open to use beyond the school.

Giles Roberts, school director of operations, added that there were a hedge, a path and a brick wall between the pitch and the neighbouring homes, which would help dampen noise.

Tim Bradbury, who lives next to the area proposed for the pitch, said: "As a former assistant head teacher at a secondary school I can tell you the noise from children using a space informally is different to supervised children in lessons or at matches."

Fifteen objections were made when the application plans were first lodged in December, including from Labour ward councillors Danny Myers and Margaret Wells.

"This is not a sports pitch, it's an all-weather playground behind neighbour's homes", Bradbury said.

"It's turning this area into a facility that will be used repeatedly, all day, every day, all-year round."

The plans follow the withdrawal of an application lodged in 2022 for flood-lit hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and cricket nets.

The school pulled the plans, which also included a 126-seat spectator stand and car and coach parking, in February 2024 after hundreds of objections.

Monday's meeting heard it would take around four to six weeks to build the new pitch.

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