New sports hub gets unanimous backing

PLANS for a sports hub in Billingham have been given unanimous approval by councillors.

- By DANIEL HODGSON

At a meeting of Stockton Council's planning committee, held on Wednesday, all 14 councillors voted in favour of the proposals.

Members of the committee were told that when the site is up and running, any surplus revenue will need to be reinvested back into grass-roots football in the area.

As previously reported, the council applied to its own planning department for permission to create a sports hub off Marsh House Avenue and Neasham Avenue in Billingham.

It will include a pavilion building, an athletics track, all-weather and grass pitches, ball courts, new car parking and a 3m-high acoustic fence.

The council, described as “both the applicant and landowner” in the officers’ report, proposed a pavilion with servery, community room and changing facilities.

The proposed hub will include one National League standard pitch with stands, toilets, a public address system, 12m-high floodlights, turnstiles and a food and drink unit.

It will also feature two artificial grass pitches, a multi-use games area with two ball courts for basketball and netball, an athletics mini-track and a community active track with the “opportunity to lay out two full-sized grass football pitches”.