Sports pavilion gets go-ahead from council

The Nene Park Trust said the Woodlands Pavilion would have changing rooms, a kitchen and sports hall

Plans have been approved for a community sports pavilion on playing fields.

Woodlands Pavilion will be located at the Woodlands sports pitches, off Splash Lane in Castor, on the outskirts of Peterborough.

Nicola Craven from Nene Park Trust, which manages the land, said the pavilion would provide "essential infrastructure".

The building will feature changing rooms, a small kitchen and multi-purpose sports hall.

People in Peterborough will be able to use it for sport, training, meetings, education, and health and wellbeing events, writes the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Woodlands became a sports facility in the late 1980s when insurance company Pearl Assurance moved its main operation from London and provided recreational activities for staff

The local parish councils, 36 members of the public and Sport England all objected to the plan.

David Shaw, of Castor Parish Council, argued the proposed pavilion was "in the wrong location and too large" and the reorganisation of the existing pitches may lead to noise complaints.

But the city council's planning committee unanimously agreed to grant planning permission.

Ms Craven explained that the pitches were used by Thorpe Wood Rangers FC and four cricket clubs. They hosted more than 200 football matches and 70 cricket matches each year, she said.

The application was supported by the Football Foundation and England & Wales Cricket Board.

A 40-space car park will also be built and a separate application for five tennis courts on the site is expected, with Castor and Ailsworth Tennis Club due to relocate there.