Agenda item - BH2013/01242 - Brighton Racecourse, Race Hill, Brighton - Full Planning Permission

Permanent use of land for park and ride facilities for up to 700 cars in conjunction with outdoor events (no more than 50 per year) at the American Express Community Stadium Falmer.

RECOMMENDATION – GRANT

Permanent use of land for park and ride facilities for up to 700 cars in conjunction with outdoor events (no more than 50 per year) at the American Express Community Stadium Falmer.

(1)                   The Case Officer (Kathryn Boggiano) introduced the application and gave a presentation by reference to plans, photographs and elevational drawings, and reference was made to matters on the Late List. The application proposed the permanent retention of the park and ride site for 700 cars for use up to 50 times each year. The site related to three parcels of land; most of the parking was grassland with some gravel tracks and tarmac circulation space. Spectator cars would access the site from Freshfield Road via the Woodingdean traffic lights; however, once the improvements to the Lewes Road were completed buses would use that route instead. The Committee had approved the previous scheme two years ago for temporary two year consent to give time for further monitoring of the impact on traffic and parking. There was a need for 1300 park and ride spaces in the city, and last year approximately 14% of spectators travelled by park and ride; however, it was highlighted that the Committee had granted an application in 2012 to increase the capacity of the stadium, and subject to the outcome of another application to amend the phasing condition of that permission the club hoped to be able to use the full capacity. Furthermore the new controlled parking zone (CPZ) to be introduced in Coldean was likely to create displacement parking leading to an increased use of the park and ride facility; the facility was also an important part of the travel plan for the stadium as a whole. The amenity impacts were considered to be acceptable; there had been no complaints in relation to the operation of the racecourse site, and there were no adverse environmental concerns. For the reasons set out in the report the application was recommended for approval.

Questions for Officers, Debate and Decision Making Process

(2)                   It was confirmed for Councillor Carol Theobald that there was a condition which sought a schedule of events to ensure there were no clashes between the stadium and the racecourse uses.

(3)                   A vote was taken and planning permission was unanimously granted.

31.2       RESOLVED – That the Committee had taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the section 11 of the report and the polices and guidance in section 7 of the report and resolves to GRANT planning permission subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in section 11 of the report.