Decision due on ‘college of rugby’ to be built on parkland next to M60

A ‘college of rugby’ is set to be created on parkland next to the M60. Bury Council’s planning committee will decide on plans submitted by Sedgley Park Rugby Union Club for development plans close to Philips Park Road West, Whitefield.

They are seeking to place five cabins at the southern end of an access track at Philips Park to provide three classrooms, a kitchen area and a toilet block for a temporary five year period. The cabins would be sat on levelling pads on the existing compacted hardcore so would have no foundations.

A planning report submitted to members of the committee, said: “The site is an established sporting facility as a rugby club that is spread over two sites, with the main clubhouse and two main pitches being located on Park Road and four playing pitches being located on land on the south side of Philips Park Road West.

“The application site is on the land off Philips Park Road West, opposite detached bungalows which border the M60 motorway. “It is accessed from two points on either side of the rugby pitches on Philips Park Road West.

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“The college of rugby is a further education college based at the rugby union club. “It hires space from the rugby club to provide their education rugby training and coaching course.

“Due to the rugby club creating an income from renting the building out during the week, the college has found itself without any internal space to carry out their teaching function.” The new site would use the existing access and have eight car parking spaces.

The planning report said officers had assessed the plans as being as being acceptable within the green belt as it would not cause long term harm to the openness and permanence of