A Devon town sports club has double-billing at an upcoming planning debate with proposals for new homes in its grounds and the expansion of sports facilities.
The Cranford sports Club, in Exmouth, will see its bid to build eight homes in its grounds debated by East Devon District Council’s planning committee this week (Tuesday 7 July).
These plans are only outline at this stage, and so another plan would be needed to finalise certain details.
At the same time, the committee will debate the club’s ambition to create a new exercise studio and wet changing facilities, build new tennis courts with floodlights, and refurbish existing courts.
Both plans have been recommended for approval with certain conditions.
Earlier this year, the club said it wanted to sell surplus land where the homes would be built and improve its facilities to put it on a “sustainable financial footing”.
“The proceeds not only prevent closure but also allow us to enhance and enrich the sports health and wellbeing facilities and services required to meet the needs of all users,” documents submitted with the plans state.
“This will grow the usage by the community, increasing income and so putting the club on a sustainable financial footing.”
As part of its plans, it has included the names of people it has secured advice from, including the Lawn Tennis Association( LTA) and Sports England, which do not appear to have any issues with the plans.
The club said the LTA required three courts for league tennis to take place, hence its plans to build a new third court and refurbish the remaining two.
The club described itself as a community amateur sports club that provides sport and fitness facilities to around 1,600 residents in East Devon.
It said its gym, swimming pool and exercise studies are used by club members, schools and charities, as well as its badminton and pickleball hall.
The club said the land for housing was unused, and its sale was “an integral part of the strategy to ensure the long term future viability of the Cranford Club”.
It added that any funding paid by a housing developer towards community assets – known in the planning process as Section 106 money – would be “ringfenced and reinvested into the club”.
A spokesperson for the Cranford Sports Club directors previously said: “We know there will be strong interest in these proposals, and we welcome constructive engagement as the planning process moves forward.
“Our priority is straightforward: to secure long-term, community-focused sports and leisure provision at Cranford, supported by investment that enhances facilities and improves the experience for current and future users. We will provide further updates at the appropriate stages of the planning process.”
Of the five representations from the public, four have objected and one has expressed support.
The objections include fears about additional noise and disturbance, the impact of lighting on ecology and additional flood risk.
Exmouth Town Council did not raise any objections providing environmental health was satisfied following a request for additional information.
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