Council approves £2.4m sports facilities for Stowmarket

The project will see the development of a sports pavilion and sports hall

An "ambitious" sports project to address health inequalities in a market town has been given the green light.

Mid Suffolk Council's planning committee has unanimously approved the Stowmarket Health, Education and Leisure Facilities (SHELF).

The £2.4m project will include a new 3G pitch, a multi-use games area and community running track.

Green Party councillor Tim Weller said: "This is a huge milestone for such an ambitious project."

The planning committee have also approved outline permission for a wellbeing hub

The site will encompass two areas of land to the north west of Stowmarket, surrounding Stowmarket High School and Chilton Fields.

"These facilities will be a great addition not only for Stowmarket but neighbouring communities, too," Mr Weller added.

"They'll give people more opportunities to be active, with all the health and social benefits that can bring."

SHELF will also see the development of a sports pavilion, sports hall, an improved rugby pitch for Stowmarket RUFC, as well as cricket nets.

Tony Bush, head of operations at Suffolk Sport, said: "There is a real need for organisations to work collaboratively and address health and wellbeing needs in the communities, and tackle stubborn inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.

"There is no doubt to me that the facilities will contribute to that collaboration."

The project will bring improvements to the current rugby pitch used by Stowmarket RUFC

In Stowmarket, adult obesity rates are more than 12% - compared to 10% in England - while more than a quarter of children in the town have been described as overweight, said the council.

Research from the NHS National Child Measurement Programme found that 79% are likely to remain obese into adulthood.

The plans were produced by a number of partners, including Suffolk County Council, Stowmarket Town Council, local schools, the leisure centre, the NHS, Active Suffolk, local sports clubs, the Football Foundation and Sport England.

Mid Suffolk Council agreed to put £450,000 towards the scheme, with the remaining funding already identified from a range of external sources and developer contributions.

Several concerns were previously raised around parking, and officers admitted the original proposals presented "unacceptable and substandard provisions".

During the meeting, they confirmed the approved plan encompassed measures which would allow the project to meet parking demand, including the introduction of an overflow area for use during busy periods.

The committee also approved the outline planning permission of the project's third package, which will see the development of a wellbeing hub.