PLANS for a gymnasium with changing rooms, offices and classrooms at Victoria Park Arena, Warrington have been approved by councillors.
The proposals, submitted by the Warrington Wolves Foundation were unanimously supported by the borough’s development management committee at their meeting last night.
There were no objections to the plans from neighbours, residents or the Environment Agency over flooding risks, the committee was told.
Councillors were told the provision of new facilities to support rugby development was consistent with the site’s existing use as a multi-use sporting facility.
Warrington Borough Council owns Victoria Park and contains sporting facilities including a dedicated track and field stadium, two high-quality pitches used primarily for rugby and football as well as open access grassed areas which are marked out for football and rugby uses.
The site also has a popular skate park.
The classrooms will be built on a “small area of the grass that is not used as a formal playing pitch.”
The visual impact of the development will be “minor” and no trees will be removed.
Councillors were told the site is part of inner Warrington and the development will see “no decrease in green space.” The plans were “sustainable, viable and attractive.”
A flood risk assessment had been carried out as the site is close to the River Mersey and there were no objections from the Environment Agency. Sport England had no objections, too, they were told.
Proposing the application be approved, Cllr Graham Gowland was seconded by Cllr Robin Frith and voted through unanimously.
