Elite football training centre plan rejected

Plans for an elite-level football training centre in have been rejected despite planning officers' recommendations to approve it.

Doncaster City Elite Training Centre (DCETC) was proposed on land near Martin Grange Farm in Bawtry, consisting of five full-size pitches, including a show pitch with a 499-capacity stand.

City of Doncaster Council planning committee voted to refuse the application over concerns relating to "loss of amenity" linked to the development on Green Belt land, and "loss of good quality of life".

The plans were put forward by former football agent Willie McKay, who will have the chance to appeal to the planning inspectorate.

In his application, McKay, whose twin sons Jack and Paul have both played professionally, said the "unique" facility would be fit to host the biggest clubs in the world for training camps or bases while they played fixtures in England.

According to the planning document, the site would be split into an "elite training hub" with five-star facilities and a "professional hub" for other teams further down the pyramid.

The facilities would also be available for public use, it added, with bookable pitch slots for the community, the hosting of schools tournament finals and disability and walking football sessions available.

It would also feature an indoor pitch, goalkeeper training areas, padel courts and hotel-style accommodation for up to three teams at any one time.

The meeting heard from Collette King, who lives in a property neighbouring the site, who said she had tried to engage the developers of the training centre, Urbana Town Planning and McKay, to buy her cottage and the one next door, which she said would be "completely enclosed" by the DCETC.

However, those negotiations failed to progress, the committee were told.

Those in favour of the development included several professional football clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.

The meeting heard from Ross Jarvie, the chair of the Bawtry Retail Association, Robbie Hume, a local resident and football coach, and the application agent, Charles Dunn - all speaking in support of the application.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Jarvie stressed the commercial benefits for the rest of Bawtry the DCETC would bring, whilst Hume spoke to the positive impact football has on mental health.

After deliberating for more than two hours, six members of the committee voted to refuse the application and two abstained.

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