A new artificial pitch planned as part of Lichfield’s new leisure centre will be tailored for youth rather than adult football, a report has revealed.
A formal planning application for the new facility at Stychbrook Park has been submitted.
As well as a swimming pool, gym and studio spaces, the new centre will have an outdoor 3G sports pitch.
But a report looking at the loss of the existing pitches, said the proposals would look to utilise a playing surface of 82 metres by 50 metres rather than the adult size of 106 metres by 70 metres.
“The need for 3G pitches is clear, and would offer a significant improvement on the existing sloped pitches, and would also offer floodlighting, fencing and storage.
“However, the introduction of flood lighting will require a certain distance to be maintained to the neighbouring properties.
“The prominence of youth 11v11 teams in the area, the need to encourage youth and senior football, while allowing the flexibility to provide 5v5 games and to mark out 9v9 games, as well as the need to retain a suitable distance from the site boundaries for new floodlighting, the under 13-14 82 metres by 50 metres pitch was decided to be the optimum proposed size.”
Planning report
The chosen pitch size would allow three 5v5 games to be played at the same time .
The report said that although two adult teams currently use the Stychbrook Park site, there were other available sites across the area.
“There is a spare capacity of adult grass pitches in the area and specifically in Lichfield city, but there is an overplay on youth 9v9 pitches and a future shortfall of mini 5v5 pitches.
“A variety of pitch sizes were reviewed. Given the spare capacity of adult grass pitches in the area, the retention of the existing pitch would not address the opportunities or direction of the playing pitch strategy.
“A larger 11v11 pitch was also reviewed. A public consultation with residents was conducted by the council on this basis, which provided feedback on a lack of park, proximity of the pitch to the site boundary as well as noise and floodlighting concerns.
“Concerns were also raised around the suitability of a large pitch to cater to youth, disability and over 50s groups.”
Planning report
Full details can seen on Lichfield District Council’s planning website.
