Sheffield United reveal plans to re-open sports centre in Crookes, but some neighbours object

The Derek Dooley Sports and Community Centre, on Weston View, Crookes, has not been used since it closed during lockdown.

But now, Sheffield United, which operated the venue, says it wants to bring it back into use - but the club has warned that it can only do that viably if floodlights can be installed.

The centre consists of all weather sports pictures and a building that has been used as a gym.

The sports centre was built at the same time as new housing nearby. When the sports club has applied for permission install floodlights in the past, people living nearby have objected.

Now another planning application to install floodlights has been filed with Sheffield Council. The planning application says it would use new LED lights that direct light more directly onto the playing areas, meaning they will have less impact on neighbours than lights proposed in previous applications.

They would be switched off at 10pm.

Now, in a planning statement accompanying the latest application, Sheffield United state that the only way the site will be viable is with floodlighting to enable the pitches to be used in the evening.

A statement from the club prepared for its planning application by the agency Urbana describes how the site was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequently fell out of use, not reopening, in part due to the corresponding commercial failure and the closure of the gym that operated within the existing building on the site.

It states that while the club has been careful to secure and protect the site, it is currently unmanaged on a day-to-day basis and has begun to be used unlawfully by groups and individuals, which the document describes as attracting anti-social behaviour at various times of the day and night, as well as unauthorised use of the pitches for their intended use.

It adds: “One of the results of this has been concern and issues for nearby residents with calls and reports made to both the applicant and to the council, with neighbours understandably keen to see a resolution in the form of action taken, whether that is the site brought back into the same use or otherwise. In that respect it is also acknowledged that there has been some discussion -including in the local press- from local councillors who have sought to encourage the site back into active use within the community.”

“In bringing forward these proposals the applicant is seeking to do exactly this, as bringing the site back into use will depend upon it being useable during evening hours across all months of year, which will be enabled by the introduction of floodlighting. This will enable its use both by the applicant and also -as it has been historically- by local 'grassroots' clubs, youth teams and local schools.”

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The report goes on to say: “Critically, the proposals will actually allow for the existing lawful use of the site to be reintroduced, which itself carries with it very substantial benefits to the local community.”

Two objections have been sent.

One is from a resident saying he is concerned the light will effect wildlife, and another from a resident, and questioning the demand for the site’s use in the evening.

The other is from a resident who raises concerns over noise and asks for the facility to close at 9pm instead of 10pm.

Crookes ward Councillor, Ruth Milson, said the had been told that the club had begun work in preparation for bringing the site back into use, and hoped to re-open the site late this year.

She said she and colleague Coun Minesh Parekh were thrilled at the prospect of the facility coming back into use.

She said: “Our main interest is that it should be primarily made available at affordable cost to grassroots sport, including junior football clubs like Crosspool Juniors.

“I’m hopeful that the floodlighting plans can be achieved with minimal disturbance to nearby residents. LED lighting units seem to be a game changer as they reduce light spillage by 80 per cent compared to the units that were proposed in a previous planning application.”