Sports hub set to be built with GP surgery
The sports hub will come with a GP surgery and pharmacy
- Published
New sports facilities and a GP surgery will help improve the health of people living in an inner-city community, according to a council.
Plans to redevelop a former school site in Holbeck, Leeds, are recommended for approval by the city's planning committee.
The scheme at the former Matthew Murray High School includes a two-storey building, three artificial football pitches, a cafe, pharmacy and gym.
It would be one of four Parklife Hubs in Leeds, planned as part of a not-for-profit scheme to boost grassroots football.
Leeds City Council’s South and West plans panel is set to approve the project on Brown Lane East at a meeting on 6 June.
A report to the meeting said a GP surgery in the development would help meet the medical needs of the community.
“The proposal would provide new community play and sport facilities which provide social, physical and mental health benefits and are in high demand in this area," it added.
The Parklife project is funded by organisations including the Football Association, the Premier League and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Parklife hubs are also planned for Thorpe Park in east Leeds and Woodhall Playing Fields, Pudsey.
Another is already in place at Bodington Playing Fields in Adel.
'Benefits to city'
Leeds City Council applied for planning permission for the Holbeck scheme, which would then be leased to a charity.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the planning report said nine comments had been received in support of the project, stating the scheme would create jobs and regenerate a run-down site.
Five objections were received, with concerns including the loss of trees and the environmental impact of plastic pitches.
But the project is supported by Leeds Civic Trust, which said it was in line with the 2018 Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan.
The report said there was a need for an extra 20 full-sized 3G Football Turf Pitches (FTPs) in the city.
It said: “The proposal will help address this shortfall and provide significant local community facilities and benefits to both Holbeck and the wider city.”
The plans panel is recommended to defer and delegate the application to the council’s chief planning officer for approval, subject to conditions.
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