Sport England has given its seal of approval to Braintree Hockey Club's ambitous plans to build a £500,000 new clubhouse and re-surface its all weather pitch.

The club's proposal to trade-off part of its Bocking Church Street site to developers Weston Homes in exchange for the new building has attracted some criticism from nearby residents.

Weston Homes has offered to build a two-storey Essex barn-style clubhouse and spend approximately £150,000 on re-surfasing its worn out AstroTurf if it gets planning permission from Braintree District Council for 24 starter apartments, constructed in the style of a single terraced row.

A number of residents have objected saying they would either prefer a small number of large residential homes to flats, or no homes at all.

However, Sport England, the brand name of the English Sports Council which is a distributor of Lottery funds to sport, has welcomed the land for money 'swop'.

Philip Raiswell, senior planning manager, said: "Sport England will normally oppose development that would lead to loss of, or prejudice the use of, all or part of a playing field, but this scheme will clearing deliver long term benifits to the use of this sports facility.

"We believe this is a clear example of where planning can help secure real investment in local sport and recreation facilities, without conflicting with policy guidance relation to development on playing fields."

Club chairman Bruce Hanley said: "The area to be given over to the apartments, which are not in the style of ugly, high rise flats, but terranced homes, is currently derelict as not uses as sports fields."

"To be given a new clubhouse on a plate, plus new artificial turf, for a small strip of land is an offer nobody in their right mind would refuse and we welcome Sports England support."

Published Tuesday August 31, 2004

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