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The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is to decide whether children are to be given sufficient outdoor space to exercise and play after councillors gave the thumbs up to a plan to double the classroom capacity of Skipton’s last primary school with a playing field.
A North Yorkshire County Council planning meeting to determine an application to build six classrooms, a car park extension, a playground and a running track at Greatwood Community Primary School in Skipton saw councillors recommend the scheme be approved, despite an objection from Sport England.
Members heard the planned extensive single storey classroom extension on the site would result in the loss of its playing field and that a running track constructed without planning permission or Sport England consultation had also resulted in “a significant loss of playing field”.
Following talks between Sport England and the council’s planners, the non-governmental body said it would not support further loss of natural playing turf at the school and that an alternative replacement field should be provided to match the loss.
Councillors then questioned why planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval, highlighting how the proposal was at odds with the national planning policy designed to protect playing fields.
Councillor Mike Jordan added: “We are supposed to be promoting healthy lifestyles and the first thing that you have got to do is get children out there and using playing fields, and they haven’t got any to use.”
Officers told the meeting on balance the proposed development was acceptable as it was required to provide sufficient pupil places in the Skipton area before 2025.
They concluded the scheme “would provide adequate outdoor space for the school”.
Aire Valley Councillor Andy Brown said it was difficult to understand the proposal without local knowledge.
He said: “The need to expand the school is clear. There is a huge expansion of houses that is going on. Why there isn’t any finance for this is a huge question.”
Skipton councillor Robert Heseltine added: “It’s odd that Sports England are objecting about a loss of facilities as of all the primary schools in Skipton, Greatwood is the only with a playground on site.”
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