A York school has lodged plans for a new multi-use, all-weather sports pitch.
An application proposes building a multi-use games area (MUGA) in the south east of St Peter’s School’s campus at the back of homes in neighbouring North Parade.
The school’s plans stated it would substantially enhance its on-site sports facilities without any unacceptable impact on noise levels or access arrangements.
Plans from the private school, said to be the fourth-oldest in the world, would see the pitch installed in an area currently used informally by pupils during break times.
It would be next to cricket practice nets in an area also used for storage.
The pitch would be designed for five-a-side football, basketball, netball and tennis, with details on markings to be decided at a later date.
It would be surrounded by a 3m-high fence featuring a 1.2m rebound panel.
There are no plans for the MUGA to be flood-lit.
Trees and shrubs would be planted along the side of the pitch next to a footpath between it and North Parade homes on the other side of the grounds’ boundary.
Plans stated the pitch would not affect pupil or staff numbers and it would be for school use only within its existing operating hours.
They added the proposals would not require any extra access arrangements with existing ones used to service the MUGA.
The application stated: “The area of grass proposed for the MUGA is currently under-utilised and is primarily used for the storage of cricket covers and screens.
“The enhancement to education provision provided by the proposal and the public benefit arising from increasing the opportunity for participation in sport for both boys and girls by increasing access to sports and recreation facilities and promoting the welfare of its pupils is significant.”
Plans lodged with City of York Council come after a separate application for flood-lit hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and cricket nets were withdrawn after hundreds of objections.
The application, lodged in 2022, also featured car and coach parking and waiting spaces, a 126-seat viewing stand, a grounds maintenance office and tractor store.
The withdrawal of the plans in February 2024 came after the authority’s planning officers called on councillors to refuse them.
A school spokesperson said at the time they remained committed to improving sports facilities for pupils and the wider community.
But objectors including Labour Clifton ward councillor Danny Myers and York Central MP Rachael Maskell said they feared it would fuel congestion on quiet, narrow residential roads.
They also objected over the potential effect of floodlighting on neighbouring homes and an increase in noise.
The previous plans garnered 239 objections along with 117 supporting comments.
