Hamiltons Leisure. 

We were approached by our client who was looking to develop a new leisure and sports facility on a site in the Wolverhampton Green Belt.

How We Approached The Project

Hamiltons Leisure had commissioned ETC Architects to develop a scheme to replace a tired and unsuitable leisure buildings on a site close to the city centre. The scheme provides a new community hub building incorporating a gymnasium with a café and changing room, together with a 3G artificial grass football pitch.

Although this seemed to be an uncontroversial proposal providing wider community benefits, the planning process was not going to be straightforward because the increase in development overall would in the Council’s view amount to “inappropriate development” in the Green Belt.

The National Planning Policy Framework requires Local Planning Authorities to ensure that substantial weight is given to any harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and to weigh this against the benefits or other considerations.

How We Achieved The Project

Berrys were instructed to assist with the planning strategy from pre-application engagement through to decision which proved to be successful, and a planning permission has been granted for the new facility.

The local planning authority recognised that the applicant was prepared to make a significant financial investment in a facility that would have wider community benefits. By engaging positively and proportionately with the council at an early stage Berrys were delighted to secure planning permission for this fantastic scheme and the process was one that also gained positive feedback from the Council officers involved.