Floodlights plan approved for Boldon tennis club, despite objections from neighbours

Plans for new floodlights at a tennis club have been approved by borough development bosses, despite objections from neighbours.

South Tyneside Council’s planning department has backed an application for Boldon Lawn Tennis Club, which sits off Dipe Lane between West Boldon and East Boldon.

Initial plans were registered by the council back in 2022 for new lighting around three courts at the eastern end of the tennis club site, including new lighting columns and floodlights.

The proposals aimed to allow extended use of the tennis courts making them available later into the day, a goal supported by consultee Sport England.

During the planning application process, however, the plans were amended several times following concerns from council officers.

The changes aimed to address concerns around impacts on surrounding residents and wildlife impacts, particularly the impact of the floodlighting on protected species.

Amended plans and extra technical lighting information were submitted to the council in 2023, with neighbours being re-notified of amendments and additional information linked to the scheme.

Initial plans saw five public objections raising concerns, including the impact of light pollution, however, the latest amendment to the scheme attracted even more objections.

During the latest council consultation exercise on the amended application, seven representations were received.

Concerns included impacts on wildlife, light pollution, car parking pressures and noise disruption, as well as questions about the need for the floodlights at the tennis club.

After considering the planning application and assessing it against planning policies, South Tyneside Council’s planning department approved it on January 16, 2024.

This was on the condition that the use of the floodlights would be restricted to the hours of 9am to 10pm to “minimise the potential impact on nearby residents”.

A council decision report set out the reasons for the decision, including comments about residential amenity.

Council planners said the proposed lighting, which includes around 12 ‘louvred’ floodlights, would “not have a significant adverse impact on the amenity of neighbouring residents”.

It was also noted that no “historic complaints” had been made to the council relating to the use of the tennis courts.

The council decision report added: “Environmental health have reaffirmed that no complaints have been received and that the proposal would not result in a substantial decrease in residential amenity and that noise should not be a restrictive factor for this application.

“Environmental health have also confirmed that they are satisfied that the lighting assessment provided in support of the application has an appropriate methodology, and therefore the conclusion that there will be no impact on residential amenity is accepted.

“Planning conditions are recommended, requiring the development to be installed and retained in accordance with the approved details; and restricted to the requested hours of operation (9am to 10pm) in the interests of safeguarding the amenity of neighbouring residents.

“It is recognised that some representations have referred to the columns themselves being incongruous when viewed from within residential properties or rear gardens.

“It is not considered that the installation of the columns themselves would be so dominant or overbearing as to have a significant adverse impact on the residential amenities of neighbouring properties.

“This is based on the degree of separation and the wider context within which the development would be viewed”.

Council planners also concluded that the amended scheme was acceptable in relation to “potential biodiversity impact, including protected species”.

This was because of the “context of the surrounding area and the changes to the lighting scheme, which has sufficiently reduced the light spill to the hedge lines and surrounding areas”.

For more information on the planning application and council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: ST/1169/21/FUL