A farming field is set to be transformed into three football pitches to allow a youth football club to relocate and use the new facilities.

Plans have been submitted to Uttlesford Council, by Threadneedle Curtis Limited, for the change of use from an agricultural field to three football pitches, car parking, site access, a storage container, associated works and landscaping at the land off Parsonage Lane, Stansted.

The plans include a 17 metre by 10 metre area for off-street parking, a three metre high storage container, a three metre high perimeter ball stop fencing and access from Parsonage Road. 

The proposals have come about due to a need for new pitches for Elsenham Youth Football Club to train and play matches on.

The club had a lease to use a grass area for pitches on a short term basis at an agreed development of 195,000 square metres of commercial and employment floorspace across a 61.86 hectare site on land to the north of Stansted Airport but "the pitches are of poor quality, lacking effective drainage and supporting facilities. It is also acknowledged that there is poor security of tenure".

This has led to the applicant purchasing the land at Parsonage Farm to accommodate a permanent relocation site for the football pitches.

The land is Green Belt, but the plans state that the proposed use is suitable for Green Belt land.

Further to a feasibility exercise carried out by Natural Turf Solutions, the farmers field was identified as a suitable location for the relocation of the club’s football pitches.

The agreed development of the commercial and employment spaces also included a legal obligation, on the applicant, to relocate Elsenham Youth Football Club and due to this the firm has been working with the council, Sport England, the Football Association and Active Essex to identify a suitable site for relocation.

The design and access statement says: "The relocation of Elsenham Youth Football Club from the existing facility at land to the north of Stansted will ‘unlock’ a significant parcel for employment space on an allocated site.

"This would provide a substantial contribution to the economic objective as is wholly consistent with the national planning policy framework.

"The proposed development will provide significantly improved facilities for the enjoyment of Elsenham Youth Football Club. The facilities could also be used by other bodies subject to management. 

"The scheme will provide all year round access to sporting facilities in a safe and secure environment.

"The proposed development will not have an adverse impact on the natural or built and historic environment.

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"The harm caused by the operation of the development as a playing pitch is not considered to cause harm to the climate.

"The proposals represent a significant uplift in quality compared to the current pitches and will therefore have considerable benefits to the local community and wider rural economy.

"It is concluded that the proposed development is wholly consistent with development permitted within the green belt and makes efficient use of otherwise underutilised land."