Plans to build 35 houses at Mayfield rejected

Plans to build a residential development on land at the Mayfield Sports Centre, Keswick Street, Castleton, have been rejected.
 
An application to build 35 houses and improvements to the sports facilities at the centre were thrown out by Councillors at a meeting held tonight (Tuesday 15 March 2011).
 
The application relates to land at Mayfield Sports Centre in Castleton. The site is accessed from Keswick Street and starts at the gates to the sports club’s grounds at the end of Keswick Street.
 
The land at either side of the access road is currently vacant open land.
 
The proposals were for:
 
•    Residential developments of 35 dwellings to the south of the access road with approval sought for the access, appearance, layout and scale of these dwellings
 
•    Residential developments to the north of the access road, with all matters reserved – only the principal of the development is being approved rather than any detail.
 
•    Improvements to existing sports facilities which would include either – improvements to the existing pitch to bring it up to ‘3G’ standards and provide fencing and floodlights or the provision of additional sports pitch facilities.
 
The report recommended that the Councillors accepted the plans but they were rejected. The report read: “The proposed improvements to recreational facilities combined with the fact that the site for the residential development is not accessible to the public and had limited amenity value mean that the proposed benefits outweigh any harm arising from the development.”