Plans for Northstowe sports pavilion and associated changing facilities have been approved by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s planning committee.
At a planning committee meeting on November 10, the planning application, which sets out the access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale for the new pavilion, was approved.
The plans also include a club room for community use and events, which have taken the public’s view into consideration via the Council’s Northstowe Community Forum. The planning application was also supported by Northstowe Town Council, Longstanton Parish Council and local council councillors Cllr Sarah Cheung-Johnson and Cllr Alex Malyon.
The pavilion will be constructed around the edge of the bowling green at Northstowe Western Park and will provide local sports teams with six changing rooms, changing facilities for sports officials, a kitchen, clubroom, reception, office space and toilets.
An air-source heat pump will provide hot water and heating for the building, which will also have LED lighting powered by solar panels installed on the roof. Conduits for future installation of electric car charging ports in the car park will also be installed during construction. Bird and bat boxes will also be incorporated into the walls.
The £1 million funding for its construction was secured by South Cambridgeshire District Council by L&Q Estates, who are the master developers for phase one of Northstowe. Additional costs for the quality of the building to make it more environmentally friendly are being funded by the council.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s lead cabinet member for planning, Cllr Dr. Tumi Hawkins, said “This is proof that we really are working to help Northstowe become even more of a place where people will want to live, work and play. This is an important building that will not only be well used by local sports teams, but also by the wider community. I am pleased to see that the pavilion features a range of energy efficiency measures, not least an air source heat pump.
These are the standards we must be aiming for in new buildings as we try to tackle the climate and ecological emergency on a local level. It’s also important to note that we have agreed that, before bricks start being laid, a scheme that will set out how the building will not only protect but enhance the local biodiversity should be agreed. I’m looking forward to seeing this important new facility that we will be delivering come to life and be full of excited sports teams and community events.”
South Cambridgeshire District Councillor for Northstowe, Cllr Alex Malyon, said “We are delighted that we’re one step closer to a permanent community building in Northstowe with this sports facility. The community has so many groups and sports teams springing up so we know that these facilities will be well used and are eagerly anticipated. The building will also have a full changing places toilet within it, to help make the building inclusive and accessible for Northstowe and the wider community. We are especially pleased with the focus the District Council has placed on the green initiatives and would like to thank all residents who gave feedback on this building.”
The application was submitted by South Cambridgeshire District Council.
Image source- Saunders Boston Architects
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