Plans for new Coleraine Grammar School hockey pitch
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received plans for a hockey pitch at Coleraine Grammar School.
The planning application was recently submitted to council’s planning portal, and seeks to replace an existing rugby pitch at the school, on the Castlerock Road, with the new AstroTurf hockey pitch, as well as the installation of fencing and floodlighting.
An accompanying Design and Access Statement noted that the proposed pitch is located within private lands, away from roadside, backing onto a public car park and with trees lining the perimeter boundaries, which “all combine to mitigate the effect of floodlighting, with regard to local residences”.
The current site falls within a settlement development limit for Coleraine, as set out on the Northern Area Plan, 2016, and falls within an area zoned as “Major Area of Existing Open Space”.
“This will remain the case,” the statement added. “Policies within the plan support the enhancement of recreational facilities, provided they do not adversely impact residential amenity, traffic, or the environment.
“This is very much the case in this instance, providing a much needed facility that many will benefit from.
“The policy emphasises protection of existing open space unless equivalent or better replacement is provided, which is created with the proposals, providing better quality outdoor space that can be utilised by more people throughout all seasons of the year.
“No changes are made to the road access at Ballycairn Road, with the hockey pitch accessed off an existing laneway within the private grounds of the school.”