Agenda item

Proposed Demolition of Storey Park Community Centre.

Storey Park Community Centre, St Marys Field, Highchurch, Morpeth, NE61 2QF

Proposed demolition of Storey Park Community Centre, Storey Park Community Centre, St Mary’s Field, High Church, Morpeth, NE61 2QF

Ryan Soulsby, Planning Officer provided an update to condition 3 in relation to noisy working times, these were to be removed as the working times would be secured by a Demolition Method Statement which formed part of the approved plans listed in Condition 2 – hours of work 8:00 am to 4.30 pm with no weekend working.

The Planning Officer continued to introduce the application with the aid of a power point presentation.

Hannah Wafer, George F White addressed the Committee, speaking in support of the application.  Her comments included the following information:

·       The building had originally been built in the 1950s and owned by the County Council with the ownership later transferred in 2020 to Morpeth Town Council.

·       The building had fallen into disrepair and due to the significant costs to bring the building up to standard, the decision had been made to close Storey Park.

·       Some residents had been disappointed at the closure and had requested that the building be identified as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and the building was listed as an ACV in March 2021.

·       The designation did provide some protection to the building; however, it did not prevent its demolition or suitable redevelopment.

·       Prior to its closure, the community centre had only been used at approximately 25% of its potential capacity and it had not been considered appropriate use of public funds to undertake such repair work.

·       The emerging Northumberland Plan provided guidance which affected assets of community value, and it was considered that the demolition wholly complied with the policy with the addition that there was alternative facilities including the newly refurbished St James Community Centre.

·       Whilst the proposal was to demolish the building, there was no intention to redevelopment the land

·       She asked that members grant permission of the demolition of the community centre building.

Councillor Richard Wearmouth addressed the Committee as Ward Member.  His comments included the following:-

·       The decision to the application to demolish the community centre had not been taken lightly

·       There was other provision elsewhere within the town

·       The building was in a state which could not be economically developed

·       If funding were to become available in future, the site could come back to use, but there were no plans to do that

·       Every opportunity had been explored to try to develop the building further

·       He supported the recommendations made by officers.

Councillor Wearmouth then withdrew from the meeting.

In response to comments from Members of the Committee the following information was provided:-

·       The proposed site plan marked the land to be used as hardstanding area after demolition.  If there were plans for development in the future, it would be subject to whoever owned the site.

·       After the building was demolished, the site would not be recognised as an ACV and become a brownfield site.  It would be up to the owner to determine what to do with it in the future.

Councillor Dodd proposed acceptance of the officer’s recommendation to grant permission as outlined in the Officer report, which was seconded by Councillor Beynon.

Councillor Jackson stated that the building was unsafe and inoperable, there had been substantial investment in the community over the years and he hoped that the site would remain in public ownership for any future development.

A vote was taken on the proposal to accept the officer’s recommendation to grant permission as outlined in the report and was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that the application be GRANTED permission for the reasons and with the conditions as outlined in the report.