A large sports club battling to secure its future has been dealt a blow after ambitious renovation plans were rejected by the council.

The application for new upgrades and homes on the green belt was made by Vauxhall Sports and Social Club on Rivacre Road, Ellesmere Port, by Tony Woodley.

The club told planning officers it was seeking approval for a new sports pavilion, the part demolition of the existing large club house and the creation of a new 3G artificial grass pitch among other improvements at the 11ha sports ground.

Crucially, the plans also included 36 dwellings and 20 apartments, all affordable, to be provided by Greater Manchester-based Adactus Housing, which would purchase the land for the new homes.

They were called in to the borough’s planning committee by Willaston and Thornton ward councillor Myles Hogg (Con), who believed the development would be harmful to the green belt for which no very special circumstances had been demonstrated.

Cllr Hogg was also worried about ‘significant traffic impacts’ which would not be helped by the area’s narrow lanes.

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Of the 56 affordable dwellings, 36 of the properties would be two and three bed while the 20 apartments would be one and two bed. A total of 41 would be affordable rent and 15 shared ownership.

The application was said to be backed by bodies including Sport England, the Cheshire County FA and the Football Foundation.

Those in support also included Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders, his predecessor Andrew Miller, Vauxhall Motors chairman and managing director Tim Tozer and Tim Devine, academy director at Everton FC.

Justin Madders
MP Justin Madders supported the application

Councillors at the planning meeting on Tuesday, April 5 were told the club was the largest provider of football pitches in Ellesmere Port and the facilities should not be lost. The proposal would enable the club, which had been operating at a loss in recent years due to declining income and rising costs, to move forward.

Objectors sent in around 25 representations insisting the green belt should be protected and there are no special circumstances to justify making an exception.

It was argued there were other more suitable sites throughout Ellesmere Port which were not in the green belt and the club was ‘remote’ with no surrounding amenities.

Objectors also referred to increased demand on social facilities, including local schools and doctors, no consultation with the community and noise pollution.

Planning officers accepted the application was not straightforward as it raised green belt issues and there were questions about the location of the club in relation to services.

But they felt: “There are a series of unique circumstances which weigh heavily in favour of this proposal.”

Club has been losing money

The application would create a new football hub to further the development of football in the Ellesmere Port area and would be available for use all year round by the club, its community scheme, local schools, Everton FC and Chester FC.

Club secretary Dave Edmunds, connected with the club for more than half a century, told the committee the club had been losing money for a number of years.

Over a full season, he said 50,000 children were involved and the development had the support of hundreds of local people. The intention was to create a legacy of first class sporting facilities.

But refusal was agreed on a 8-3 vote as the application would be inappropriate development in the green belt for which there were no very special circumstances.

A majority of councillors also believed the site was inaccessible to local services.