Introduction
Emery Planning will shortly be submitting a planning application on behalf of Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club for a replacement clubhouse, playing pitches, associated facilities and the residential development of 75 dwellings at land at Macclesfield Rugby Club, Priory Park, Priory Lane, Macclesfield.
The aim is to deliver a more sustainable future for the Club that allows a more consistent income stream delivered from facilities which would be available to the wider community. This applies to both playing field facilities and the clubhouse. The improvement to both will secure use by other clubs within Macclesfield as well as providing better function and conference facilities for the business community amongst others. Fundamentally, the proposals seek to secure a more multi-club / sport basis for the facilities and operation of the Club.
The Club does not have the funds for any substantive improvement to the existing facility to enable the Club to be self-financing in the future. This is the most appropriate option to ensure the Macclesfield Rugby Club community asset is retained and improved.
This website provides details of the proposed development and seeks the thoughts and comments from members of the local community in relation to both the proposed housing development and the replacement playing pitches.
Feedback through this website is welcomed and will be reported and summarised as part of the application submission.
Background
The site is approximately 11 ha in area. It is located at the junction of Priory Lane and Alderley Road to the north west of Macclesfield Town Centre. It comprises the playing pitch, car parking, training pitches and a club house which houses the stands.
Priory Park has been used by MRUFC since September 1980. The current facilities at the Club are outdated and in need of investment. The clubhouse itself is in need of modernisation and reflects the incremental extension and alteration that has taken place over time. For example, there are insufficient changing facilities which means that men and / or women and juniors cannot use the facilities at the same time. The kitchen is too small to provide hospitality and there is no gym for players to train. The clubhouse is also poorly located as it casts a shadow on the main pitch at certain times of the day. Fundamentally the clubhouse also lacks proper provision for people with disabilities with no lift access to the facilities at first floor level. A new clubhouse will deliver facilities that are fit for purpose and sustainable both in a functional and economic sense.
The pitches themselves are also in need of investment and upgrade. The main pitch can only be used once at the weekend so that it can recover in time for the next game. The club facilities are not currently designed as a business to self-fund and sustain itself. The proposed development builds income generation into the design.
Macclesfield Rugby Club
A layout plan for the replacement sports facilities and the development of 75 new homes has been prepared.
The proposals seek to deliver a more sustainable future for the Club that allows a more consistent income stream delivered from facilities which would be available to the wider community. The improvement to both the playing fields and clubhouse will secure use by other clubs within Macclesfield as well as providing better function and conference facilities for the business community amongst others. Fundamentally, the proposals seek to secure a more multi-club / sport basis for the facilities and operation of the Club.
In terms of the new clubhouse, this would be positioned to the east of the proposed Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP). The proposed plan for the clubhouse shows that there would be a number of changing rooms and a gym on the ground floor and a member’s lounge and clubroom on the first floor. There would also be spectator seating. The revisions to the layout allow much more flexible use of the clubhouse which is currently constrained by fixed room sizes at first floor level and a kitchen that is in the wrong location and too small to service the clubhouse.
As shown on the proposed layout, there would be a number of new and / or reconfigured pitches at the site. In particular, an RFU / IRB approved Artificial Turf Pitch (ATP) is proposed, this would replace the main pitch. The new clubhouse would be located to the east of this pitch. The ATP would mean that training and matches could take place throughout the year. At present, the main pitch can only be used once a weekend, but an ATP could be used by different sports teams at different times throughout the weekend almost back to back. It could also be used by other local teams and sports clubs both at weekends and during the week as an alternative to current facilities that do not offer the quality and consistency available through the artificial surface. The Club have agreed heads of terms with at least two local teams, one of which has to travel out of the area to access facilities.
The comprehensive approach to pitch layout and construction reflects the Club’s intention to ensure a community based sustainable facility. All existing pitches suffer from poor drainage and it has become apparent that recently laid pitches are not of a quality now required to ensure they are used to their full potential. The ATP surface will allow the potential for use 7 days a week almost on a back to back basis. The re-laid grass pitches will be far more robust allowing more efficient use and maintenance. The proposals as a whole will secure use by a far broader base of sports clubs in the Macclesfield area and complement existing facilities.
In order to secure the funding required for the replacement facilities, the Club proposes to sell land fronting Priory Lane, which would be developed by Jones Homes and deliver 75 houses. The areas proposed do not form active playing pitches and with the more efficient layout proposed for the site there would be an increase in the number of playing pitches, even though the land available to the Club reduces. The housing is enabling the Club improvements; the amount of housing development proposed is the minimum to enable the Club to develop for the future.
Have your say
We would like your views on the proposals and request that all responses be returned by Tuesday 14th June 2016.
If you wish to discuss the project please contact us using the form below to send your feedback and comments, making sure that all of the required fields (*) are completed. If you do not want your name and address identifying you in our report on public consultation when we submit the planning application, then please let us know by ticking the privacy box below.
Please note that the plans may be subject to amendments following receipt of your comments.
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