Panel approves floodlighting at Cockburn School 3G pitch

Councillors on the South & West Plans Panel voted to approve a planning application to install floodlights on the new artificial pitch and tennis courts at Cockburn School in Beeston today (6 February 2025).

The football/rugby pitch will be covered by lighting on six 15m high poles, whilst the tennis/netball courts will be lit from eight 8m poles.

In their report to the panel officers recommended approval. They said the proposed lighting plan, with additional conditions would ensure very little light would reach the ancient woodland, about 0.5 lux which they said was the equivalent of a moonlit night. Taking this and results of a bat survey, they were satisfied that the development did not pose an unacceptable impact on the local wildlife.

The application had received 50 letters of support and 44 letters opposing it. Those in favour stressed the benefit to community sports clubs and opportunities for young people to be active; while objections centred on the impact on local nature, especially the nearby ancient woodland of Middleton Park.

At the meeting two people spoke against the application. Alan Shaw from the Friends of Middleton Park said:

“The impact assessment on the surrounding grassland, local nature reserve and nearby semi-ancient woodland is insufficient and concentrates only on bat species.”

Suzanne Grace from Save South Leeds Former Golf Course Community Group said that the 3G pitch at Middleton Leisure Centre ran at a deficit and that tennis courts at John Charles Centre for Sport were not fully booked on evenings. She concluded:

“The area already has enough existing or pending floodlit pitches.”

Emma Watson, Chief Operations Officer at Cockburn Multi-academy Trust, speaking in support of the application rejected this, quoting the draft 3G Leeds Football Facilities Plan, which states that the city is short of 29 full size pitches, with 10 of that shortfall within South Leeds.

“The project is about improving the facilities, it’s about creating those lasting opportunities for young people, promoting health and wellbeing and fostering a sense of community pride” she said.

“We understand that introducing floodlighting must be done sensitively and we do take seriously our responsibility to the local environment and to the community. We fully support and agree the mitigating conditions set out by the planning officer, ensuring that the impact on wildlife and the environment and residents is managed responsibly.”

The application was approved with conditions including:

• Use of floodlights in accordance with specified hours:
  • Jan to Mar; Nov and Dec: Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat–Sun 8am–9pm (as per Community Use Agreement)
  • Apr and Oct: Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat–Sun 8am–5pm (as per Community Use Agreement)
  • May to Sept: No floodlight use
• Floodlights to be switched off when not in use
• Process for dealing with complaints about floodlighting
• Lighting design strategy for bats

You can find links to the full report to the meeting, slides, and a video recording of the meeting online here.

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