Farmer’s field at Parsonage Lane, Stansted, set to become new home of Elsenham Youth Football Club
A farming field near the M11 at Stansted is set to be transformed into a new home for Elsenham Youth Football Club.
Plans have been submitted to Uttlesford District Council for change of use of an agricultural field to three pitches, parking, site access, a storage container, associated works and landscaping at Parsonage Lane.
The scheme includes an area of 17m (56ft) by 10m (33ft) area for off-street parking, a 3m (10ft) high storage container and 3m (10ft) high perimeter fencing.
The land is Green Belt but applicant Threadneedle Curtis Ltd insists the proposed use is suitable.
A design and access statement for the proposals outlines how Elsenham Youth FC had a lease to use a grass area for pitches on a short-term basis at an agreed 19.5-hectare (48.2-acre) development of commercial and employment floorspace across a 61.86-hectare (153-acre) site on land to the north of Stansted Airport, but “the pitches are of poor quality, lacking effective drainage and supporting facilities. It is also acknowledged that there is poor security of tenure.”
This led to the applicant buying the land at Parsonage Farm to accommodate the club’s relocation. A feasibility exercise carried out by Natural Turf Solutions showed the farmer’s field was suitable for the football pitches.
The agreed development of the commercial and employment spaces also included a legal obligation on the applicant to relocate the club. Due to this, the firm has been working with the council, Sport England, the Football Association and Active Essex to identify a suitable site for relocation.
The design and access statement says: “The relocation of Elsenham Youth Football Club from the existing facility at land to the north of Stansted will ‘unlock’ a significant parcel for employment space on an allocated site. This would provide a substantial contribution to the economic objective as is wholly consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework.”
It said the proposed football development would bring “significantly improved facilities” for the club which could also be used by others, providing “year-round access to sporting facilities in a safe and secure environment”.
It would not have an “adverse impact” on the environment and “is not considered to cause harm to the climate”.
The statement adds: “The proposals represent a significant uplift in quality compared to the current pitches and will therefore have considerable benefits to the local community and wider rural economy.
“It is concluded that the proposed development is wholly consistent with development permitted within the Green Belt and makes efficient use of otherwise under-utilised land.”
