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13
Jan
Council makes key decision on Boroughbridge Sports Village
The group behind plans to create a sports village in Boroughbridge has been told it must produce an environmental impact assessment before the scheme can proceed.
The ambitious project would see three multi-use grass sports pitches, two multi-use games areas, a two-storey gym with café, a one kilometre running track, a sprint track and a children’s cycling pump track built on nine acres of agricultural land off Chapel Hill, south of Aldborough
The scheme also includes a children’s play area, a picnic area and 160 car parking spaces.
A proposed walkway would link directly to the Taylor Wimpey housing development west of the site.
The charity Boroughbridge Sports Village was created last year as a vehicle to develop the initiative, which involves Boroughbridge Town Council and local gym owner and former World’s Strongest Man competitor Darren Sadler, who now organises most of the world’s leading strongman contests through the Giants Live brand.
The proposed site
They argued the proposal would have no significant environmental effects and therefore did not require a formal environmental impact assessment, which would add to the cost and length of the scheme.
But Helen Goulden, a case officer at North Yorkshire Council, disagreed.
Her decision notice concluded “the potential impacts on the historic environment must be further explored by way of an environmental impact assessment”.
Ms Goulden said her decision was based on comments by statutory consultees, in particular the non-departmental public body Historic England, which said the site sits within an area of intense activity during the Roman period and therefore demands a high level of archaeological assessment.
She said:
Historic England considers that a full environmental impact assessment should be carried out in relation to the historic environment. This should contain an examination of the potential impacts upon all heritage assets likely to be affected, including designated heritage assets and their settings together with potential impacts on non-designated features of historic, architectural, archaeological, or artistic interest.
The council’s conservation officer also considers that the development proposal has the potential to impact the setting and significance of identified heritage assets. The site is located within proximity to areas and features which are protected for their cultural heritage and archaeological importance which could be affected by the proposed development.
Public support
A survey by the applicants last year discovered widespread support for the scheme in Boroughbridge.
More than 90% either agreed or strongly agreed the facility would improve the health and wellbeing of the residents of Boroughbridge and neighbouring communities.
Asked to respond to the council’s decision, Councillor Pauline Phillips, mayor of Boroughbridge Town Council, said those involved “welcome this clarity from North Yorkshire Council”.
Cllr Phillips said:
Improving the facilities on offer for individuals, families and businesses in Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Minskip is one of our key priorities as a town council and that is why the proposed sports village is an important project, and one we are working to progress as quickly as possible.
We welcome this clarity from North Yorkshire Council, which follows a submission in May 2024, and the decision will allow us to work on the next steps.
Alongside Boroughbridge Sports Village Charity and Darren Sadler from Absolute Fitness, we are all determined to continue developing this project and driving it forward together to achieve the right outcome in the right way. We will keep everyone updated on that work as and when we can. The town council are excited by the significant benefits this project will bring for our community.
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