£3m investment in community sports facilities approved by St Helens Borough Council Planning committee

Article date: 9 November 2023

St Helens Borough Council's Planning Committee approved the plans for land off Cromdale Grove, submitted by developers Harworth Estates, to create seven formal sports pitches providing playing space from juniors to adults, a club house with changing and kitchen facilities, and car parking for more than 150 cars. The development will also provide better walking routes and woodland management benefits.

The new sports pitches will be leased from the Council by Penlake Juniors AFC as the club will leave their existing Beeches Playing Field site, which will be redeveloped to create more much-needed high quality new homes as part of the thriving Moss Nook development.

Councillor Richard McCauley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said:

"This is a fantastic example of how our aims to support sustainable development is more than just about building new houses. These high-standard sporting facilities will secure a new home for a longstanding and highly valued football team in our borough, while opening up woodland areas and providing new footpath links for residents to enjoy.

"Moss Nook is a prime example of how we can use our place in the Liverpool City Region to bring in investment to clean up brownfield sites, turning a derelict former manufacturing site into a bustling community with great local amenities, including these new sports facilities."