Durham County Council have approved a planning application to redevelop the community sports facilities and pitches in Chilton, including a new club house and associated parking.
The original application, submitted in October 2023, and public notices, were posted in May 2024.
Trustees of the Miners Welfare Recreation Ground, when they became aware of the size and scale of the planning application, expressed concern on the ability to deliver the project without a comprehensive business plan in place, or adequate level of public engagement on local priorities.
A new Chair of the Trust was elected in September 2024 with a commitment to focus on working with DCC officers to progress the planning application, providing the required documentation and subsequent reports to ensure that no additional funding was spent on professional fees.
The Chair of the Trust said: “The planning application as approved represents a sizeable and expensive project for Chilton.
“Whereby Trustees are ambitious in their desire for providing sports and recreation facilities for the Chilton community, we are also realistic in terms of the need for an achievable approach to the development.
“A project of this size and scale requires a significant level of external funding to ensure it comes to fruition.
“We have been working closely with DCC Planning to agree a phased approach to delivery with the initial stage focusing on improving the condition of the existing football pitches and addressing the recommendations of a recent Grounds Maintenance Association drainage report.
“This remedial work is key to the achievement of subsequent phases of the project.
“It is also timely that Chilton is developing its Neighbourhood Plan as we will be able to utilise community feedback on access to recreational facilities and green spaces to agree subsequent phases based on local need and priority.
“We would like to thank members of DCC’s planning team, including case officer Lisa Morina (Senior Planning Officer) and Stephen Reed (Planning Development Manager) for their advice, assistance and working with us as the application progressed. In addition, thanks to FSL for providing the original draft plans.”
The Miners’ Welfare Recreation Ground is a Trust of Chilton Town Council and is funded by a small annual grant to cover general maintenance and groundwork.
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