Plan for super new sports stadium

PLANS for a major new community hub and sports facilities in Warrington’s Victoria Park are to be put to the borough council’s planning committee next week.
They include a 300-seat grandstand, floodlit rugby pitch, changing rooms, bar and community room.
The development would be surrounded by a new 2.4m high fence – and the development would be built on stilts to take into account the possibility of flooding from the nearby River Mersey.
The floodlit pitch would be used by the Warrington Wolves Academy and junior teams for training and matches.
Warrington Wolves and Latchford Albion Amateur Rugby League Club are backing the scheme which they see as a welcome facility following the closure of the Wilderspool Stadium.
But a nearby residents has objected on the grounds of noise, parking parking, anti-social behaviour and an increase in light pollution in an area already heavily polluted by evening-time light.
The development would be on land to the east of the existing athletics arena. It would have parking for 380 vehicles.
A balcony with glazing is proposed at first floor level overlooking the existing running track.
A report to be considered by the committee states that the site has a medium-to-high probability of tidal and river flooding. Victoria Park is integral to the Environment Agency’s flood defence scheme and it is acknowledged that that development in a functional flood plain has the potential to impact on the capacity of the flood plain.
As a result, the development will be built on stilts to ensure loss of capacity is kept to a minimum.
In addition, an underground storage area will be provided to accommodate surface water run-off to cater for a 1-in-30 year flood event – plus 20 per cent to allow for climate change.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved.