Reports

Report of the Council on the provision of additional hockey and changing facilities at the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Facilities to meet the University’s needs for athletics, hockey, and general training are provided at the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground. These facilities are provided in addition to the amenities available at the University Sports Centre at West Cambridge, and the University Cricket Ground, the Indoor Cricket School, and University Lawn Tennis Club facilities at Fenner’s.

2. The facilities at Wilberforce Road currently include a floodlit, synthetic hockey surface. Full planning permission for a second, synthetic hockey pitch with floodlighting is in place. A second pitch has not yet been constructed, however, pending external fundraising.

3. A philanthropic donor has expressed an interest in supporting the construction of additional hockey facilities in Cambridge. The donor wishes to create two additional synthetic pitches so that there is sufficient capacity at Wilberforce Road to host the Cambridge University and Cambridge City Hockey Clubs, as well as to support the training and playing needs of College and other local hockey clubs and local schools. The provision of additional synthetic hockey surfaces at Wilberforce Road is supported by a ‘playing pitch strategy’ articulated by Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils and endorsed by England Hockey. Construction of a third pitch on the same site is subject to approval by the local planning authority and agreement with the landowner. The existing changing facilities will be remodelled to accommodate additional teams.

4. The project was registered by the Planning and Resources Committee at its meeting on 7 December 2016. Further details relating to the design, maintenance, recurrent costs, and funding arrangements will be brought to future meetings of the Buildings Committee and the Planning and Resources Committee. A Second-stage Report will be published in due course to seek approval for implementation of the project.

5. A location plan of the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground is shown below.

6. The Council recommends:

I. That approval in principle be given for the construction of additional hockey and changing facilities as described in this Report.

II. That the Director of Estates Strategy be authorized to apply for detailed planning approval in due course.

9 November 2016	L. K. Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor	Nicholas Gay	Michael Proctor
	Chad Allen	Nicholas Holmes	John Shakeshaft
	Ross Anderson	Alice Hutchings	Sara Weller
	Richard Anthony	Stuart Laing	I. H. White
	R. Charles	Mark Lewisohn	Mark Wormald
	Stephen. J. Cowley	Susan Oosthuizen	Jocelyn Wyburd

Location plan: Wilberforce Road Sports Ground