Plan to extend cricket pavilion on Derbyshire green belt site is passed due to very special circumstances

Acting on an officer’s recommendation, North East Derbyshire District Council has approved an application for single storey extensions to the side and rear of the timber building at The Derek Oldman Memorial Ground, Windmill Lane, Hundall, near Dronfield. The ground is the home of Hundall Cricket Club.

The original pavilion measures approximately 360m3 and under the proposed extension would measure approximately 528m3, resulting in an increase of approximately 47% in size. A report to the council highlighted the visual and spatial impact on the openness of the green belt, stating: “Officers are of the view that the extensions would be a disproportionate addition over and above the size of the original building and would therefore be inappropriate development.”

However, the report indicated that there were very special circumstances that would outweigh the harm caused. Planning permission was granted for the demolition of the existing pavilion and the erection of a new building in 2024. The volume of the building previously approved measured 820m3, which was larger than the current scheme in both footprint and volume. The report stated: “As the current application would result in a reduced impact compared to the approved scheme, officers are of the view that the impact on the openness of the Green Belt when comparing the current proposals with the fallback scheme would be reduced. For this reason, the fallback position is, therefore, a material consideration of significant weight in this case.

"Officers are of the view that the fallback is of sufficient weight to clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness in this case.”

The application was submitted to the council by Mr D. Harlington.

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