Godalming to get new sports hall
Godalming in Surrey is to get a new sports hall, thanks to a successful planning appeal by Godalming College.
The College was supported by sport and leisure consultants PMP in the appeal, with PMP's Director of Consulting Marcus Kingwell acting as expert witness on sports pitch matters. The College's proposal is to develop of an area of surplus playing field to provide 49 dwellings. The income from the development will pay for a new dual use sports hall and a new science centre. The need for the sports hall has been identified in a leisure needs survey for Godalming, which PMP undertook on behalf of Waverley Borough Council in 1999. PMP subsequently undertook playing pitch strategies which identified a surplus of sports pitches in the area. One of the key issues for the inspector at the inquiry, therefore, was to judge whether the benefits of the development outweighed any harm arising from the loss of part of the playing field. He supported this conclusion.
Marcus Kingwell of PMP said: "Godalming has a long established need for a sports hall and the College provides the ideal location. But playing fields are precious resources and are, quite rightly, protected by PPG17 and other guidance. By referring to PMP's leisure needs study and playing pitch strategies, the inspector had all the right information to make this carefully considered decision which ensure maximum overall benefit to the local community."
For further details please contact:
Marcus Kingwell
Director of Consulting
t +44 (0) 1483 527755
f +44 (0) 1483 527370