Cricket club's ground plans given go ahead
THE expansion of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has been approved at the second time of asking, paving the way for more international matches in Bristol.
The city council's development control (north) committee last night voted by seven to three in favour of the plans, including the controversial apartment block that has sparked protests from ward councillors and residents living nearby.
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An artist's impression of the new cricket ground development
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Council meeting on the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club application, Bristol City Council
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Tom Richardson, chief executive of County Cricket Club, speaks during Council meeting on the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club application
The club will now demolish the Mound and Jessop stands, installing 7,500 permanent seats and a plush new pavilion, allowing for a potential crowd of 17,000 in future.
The £10 million expansion is only made possible by the building by Linden Homes of 147 one, two and three-bedroom apartments in a six-storey development on the Ashley Down Road side of the ground.
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Revised plans were considered by councillors last night after the original scheme was narrowly thrown out in January – when the committee had a slightly different membership – mainly due to concerns about the original planned height of a seven-storey block of flats.
Architects took out one storey and lowered the penthouse suites, while retaining the 147 homes by extending the building on one side.
After the decision at the Council House the club's chief executive Tom Richardson said: "We feel great about it. That was obviously the result we were seeking. I would like to thank everyone who supported us, and of course the team who worked so hard."
Mr Richardson said he hoped building would start in September and the improved ground would be ready to host a lucrative international between England and India in 2014.
"It will benefit the city," Mr Richardson said. "People come and stay in hotels and about £1 million is generated for a one-day international. That's not to be sniffed at."
Speaking during the debate before the application was approved, Mr Richardson said: "This is a critical moment for this cricket club. We want to go forward as a vibrant and successful organisation, which plays a significant part in the life of the city of Bristol and is also a key part of the community."
The application received 1,392 letters of support and endorsements from the likes of Bristol Chamber of Commerce director James Durie and Paul Russell, the former chairman of Glamorgan Cricket Club, where a similar expansion brought an Ashes Test match.
But residents remain concerned about a lack of parking spaces for people who move into the apartments, as well as its effect on nearby Ashley Down Junior School. There will be only 111 basement parking spaces for the 147 apartments.
The committee received 157 letters against the development and parents fear the six-storey block will still overshadow the school playground.
Speaking on behalf of local residents' campaign group Howzat, Elinor Ni Chathain objected to the "scale and mass" of the residential development. She said the changes to the original application were so minimal, it counted as a "free go" requiring no planning fee and she felt the "Lego option" had been taken.
Daniella Radice, a concerned parent, told the committee: "You're being asked to damage the environment of Bristol children for the sake of one match per year. I think this development is far too big."
Bishopston ward Liberal Democrat councillors Dr David Willingham and Bev Knott both spoke passionately against the application.
Dr Willingham said it would cause "substantial harm to the community", largely due to the increase in population near a school that is already oversubscribed.
He told the committee: "If you support the application you will fail not only the residents of Bristol, but every council tax payer."
The cricket club and Linden Homes came in for criticism for offering relatively little in terms of money for local improvement schemes under a planning deal to mitigate any negative effects to the area.
The club has agreed to give £83,462 towards highway improvements but will go no further than that, estimating its community contributions are worth about £1,262,250 over the next 15 years. It has also pledged to introduce a learning scheme for local youngsters called No Boundaries.
Galliford Try, Linden Homes' parent company, has now pledged £25,000 from its corporate responsibility fund, which will go towards education, and has said it will employ local apprentices when building takes place. But Dr Willingham told the meeting that the company was expected to make about £5.8 million profit from the development.
The council's planning officers recommended approval of the revised plans, as they had done for the original application, which had been refused by six votes to four.
Comments
by KBillies
Thursday, May 31 2012, 10:02PM
“Guy Poultney is an impressive and articulate young man who can be heard on the BCC web cast in support of the Cricket Club.
He made some strong arguments in favour of the club and deserves credit for this.”
by Bishop_Stoner
Thursday, May 31 2012, 7:15PM
“The council committee bottled out of backing residents' opposition to the club's plans and backing supporters, many of whom don't come from Bristol. Supporters who won't have to subsidise the lack of S106 monies, look at the hideous blocks, or struggle to find parking in their own streets. Bishopston, already one of the most densely populated wards, will become even more crowded so that Linden Homes can make a big fat profit and pass some scraps to the club. The club's management, who haven't made a profit when they've hosted ODIs in recent years, will fail to make all the changes they need to without adding to their debts. Don't be surprised if all we end up with is massive blocks of ugly flats and no club.”
by EricClark1
Thursday, May 31 2012, 6:56PM
“So in the end it was down to a few neighbours getting all territorial about parking issues?
And they say cars are progress!”
by groovygems
Thursday, May 31 2012, 5:47PM
“well done to everyone who voted yes to this planning application.despite some rather dubious reasons from objectors including light pollution,and damaging the enviroment for the children of bristol,although most children i would assume would be passengers in cars on a regular basis ! common sense has prevailed.”
by Arthur_T
Thursday, May 31 2012, 1:42PM
“@geoffers, okay I should have said that in my view most local residents whose opposed this plan will now accept the decision, they will not appeal it.
Do you not agree that the GCCC exec need to improve their game after their management of this process if this ambitious plan is to succeed?
GCCC had to borrow money from the council to help them through the development phase between applications. They didn't really change anything in fact they weren't charged a planning fee as it was so similar. They employed a new PR firm who obviously made a big difference to the successful media savvy strategy. Last time I checked these swanky PR types did not work for charity. No hard evidence just a hypothesis.”
by PhoenixWright
Thursday, May 31 2012, 1:35PM
“At least when they built the houses to finance it 122 years ago they provided ample parking :-p
I'm still waiting for someone to explain why it is better to cram all these things into the existing ground when they had the chance to go nuts in Filton. As I said i'm not saying they shouldn't have a better ground, would make more sense to have gone there in terms of transport, future expansion etc. So what if its not 'in' Bristol, its still not in Gloucestershire, although being in South Glos would have been a closer match namewise!
I wouldn't be against the idea of a residents parking scheme either, the house opposite has FIVE cars so would at least teach them not to hog up so much of the already limited space.”
by Commenter42
Thursday, May 31 2012, 1:29PM
“CKGirl - If you know the history then you also know what a stupid question you've asked.”
by 2ladybugs
Thursday, May 31 2012, 1:23PM
“Re my last coming should read " from coming there"”
by 2ladybugs
Thursday, May 31 2012, 12:58PM
“Very short-sighted of BCC. Still I suppose with more on-road parking they are making it even more difficult to get round Bristol which will put even more people off coming there. Typical town planners logic being applied here. It seems to be the flavour of the day all over the country. Penalise the car owners who put vast amounts of money into the coffers. Heigh-ho.”
by CKGirl
Thursday, May 31 2012, 12:53PM
“Personally speaking I abhor cricket and find it criminally boring, however, for those of a different mind, isn't it a bit of a shame that a county's cricket ground is in another county, and before the pedants pounce on me, I do know the history of the county boundaries/names etc. ?”