Ward / Postcode / GeoRef

Podsmead / GL1 5TY (closest) / E: 382935 N: 215862

Gross Site Area:

9.7 ha

Allocation:

Multi-use sports, physical activity and community hub, to include a full-sized 3G artificial surface, grass playing fields and a multi-use health and wellbeing facility.

Description and overview

Historically used as playing fields, this site has been identified in the Playing Pitch Strategy and Built Sports Facility Strategy as a priority for a multi-sports and community hub within the Podsmead community, but with a city-wide reach. It also provides opportunities for physical activity beyond formal sport. The development should include a multi-use health and wellbeing facility to provide for the needs of the local community and those arising from the delivery of sports facilities with the city-wide catchment.

Site specific requirements and opportunities

Design and layout

• Careful consideration needs to be given to the access route into the site and the boundary treatments.
• An improved street presence and adequate parking will need to be provided.
• Opportunity to improve visibility and instate a footpath to the eastern side of Podsmead Road.
• Safe and secure routes will be needed between the facilities and its potential users.

Gloucester Athletics Club

• Incorporation of the adjacent Gloucester Athletics Club into the wider site to secure a seamless multi-sports venue. Protection of the amenity and facilities currently enjoyed by the club.

Historic environment

• Any requirements for upfront information and mitigation would depend on the scale and impact of any proposal.

Biodiversity

• Incorporation of and improvements to the dismantled railway cutting, currently an extensive area of brambles, shrubs and small trees including apples and damson. This area forms a potential Local Wildlife Site and is identified as having considerable potential for enhancing local conservation value and protection/enhancement of a key ecological corridor within an urban environment.

Flood risk

• Surface water runoff from the site is considered to contribute to flood risk in the downstream catchment; redevelopment provides an opportunity for flood risk mitigation for the wider area. Any development should therefore implement a robust Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS).