Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance).

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the removal of an existing children’s playground and reinstatement of ground as parkland, construction of a new playground including a splash pad with associated changing room facility, kiosk, fencing around compound, outdoor gym equipment, drainage, earthworks and landscaping.

The application site was located within Stanborough Park North, which was to the north of Stanborough Road and covered an area of approximately 1.086ha.  The surrounding area was predominantly grass parkland with associated car parking, accessed via an access road from Stanborough Road.  A high ropes course was also within Stanborough Park North to the north of the application site.  There was a public right of way adjoining the site to the east, which travelled from Stanborough Road and through this side of the park. The western side of the site was bordered by the River Lea and the A1 (M) was further beyond this, in an elevated position. 

The site included land occupied by the former open air pool complex, the Lido area.  That swimming pool complex was opened to the public in the 1970s until its closure in the 1990s and subsequent demolition.  That had all been demolished and the only building remaining on the site was a toilet facility and kiosk which were located in the southwest corner of the former lido area.  The toilet facility was currently undergoing renovation which was granted planning permission under application reference 6/2019/0119/FULL. 

The former Lido area had been infilled and grassed over and now formed part of the wider grass parkland and was not visually separated.  To the west of the former lido area was a children’s play area which adjoined the boundary with the River Lea forming part of the application site.

This application was presented to the Committee because it was a major application and the applicant was Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

L.Melrose spoke for the application explaining the proposed redevelopment which would replace existing provision and present new facilities and opportunities for the community complementing the park. The target opening date was the Summer of 2020 as part of the Welwyn Garden City Centenary celebrations.

Following discussion, it was proposed and seconded by Councillors A.Chesterman and M.Larkins and

RESOLVED:

(Unanimous – 10 Members Voting)

That planning permission be approved, subject to the conditions as set out in the report and to the following additional condition and additional informative:-

“Condition - All existing play equipment, hard surfacing, fencing and associated paraphernalia associated with the existing playground must be removed from the site before the new play area in the Splashland site hereby permitted is first used.  Subsequently that former playground area shall be reinstated with grass and wild flowers in accordance with the approved plans by the end of the next available planting season. 

REASON:  To ensure a satisfactory standard of development in the interests of visual amenity and Green Belt in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Policies D1, D2 and D8 of the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan 2005.

Informative - The construction works, and operation of the proposed development site should be done in accordance with the relevant British Standards and Best Management Practices, thereby significantly reducing the groundwater pollution risk.  It should be noted that the construction works may exacerbate any existing pollution.  if any pollution is found at the site then the appropriate monitoring and remediation methods will need to be undertaken.”

(Note:  Councillors S.Boulton and S.Elam withdrew for this item. Councillor F.Marsh was not present for all of the consideration of the item so did not take part in the vote).