The Planning Committee of Doncaster Council met on Tuesday 28 July 2026 to consider a schedule of planning applications and appeal decisions. The meeting's agenda included a significant application for a football training centre, alongside other planning matters and a review of recent appeal decisions.

Football Training Centre Application

A major focus of the meeting was the proposed erection of buildings and sports pitches to form a football training centre with elite, professional, and community facilities. The application, located on Land North of Martin Grange Farm, Martin Grange Farm Lane, Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6DD, was a resubmission of a previous scheme that had been refused. The proposal included an Elite Training Centre (ETC) and a Professional Training Centre (PTC), along with multiple football pitches, a stand, and ancillary buildings.

The report pack detailed extensive considerations regarding the application, including:

• Principle of Development and Green Belt: The site lies within the Green Belt, and the proposal was considered inappropriate development. The applicant argued that very special circumstances existed to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt, citing strategic sporting need, economic investment, employment generation, secured community access, and biodiversity enhancements. The report noted that substantial weight must be given to Green Belt harm.
• Landscape and Design: Concerns were raised by the Council's Design Officer regarding the scale and massing of the buildings, particularly the PTC, and the limited use of locally characteristic materials. The proposal aimed for a campus in the landscape approach, with extensive landscaping and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) integrated into the design.
• Residential Amenity: A key change from the previous application was the incorporation of two neighbouring properties, Martin Grange Cottage and Ravenglade, into the application site, with a proposed change of use to ancillary accommodation for the training centre. This aimed to address previous residential amenity concerns. The remaining independent residential receptor, Martin Grange Bungalow, was assessed for noise, lighting, and other amenity impacts.
• Highway Safety and Traffic: The proposal included improvements to the junction of Martin Grange Farm Lane and the A638 Great North Road. The Transport Assessment indicated modest traffic generation, with a focus on coach movements for elite teams. A Section 278 agreement was proposed for highway works, and a Section 106 agreement was to secure community use, sustainable transport contributions, and a local employment and skills plan.
• Ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): The scheme aimed to deliver a minimum 10% BNG, with an intention to achieve 20%. This would be secured through planning conditions and the statutory BNG regime.
• Flooding and Drainage: The site is located within Flood Zone 1, with the primary drainage consideration being surface water runoff. A detailed drainage strategy incorporating SuDS was proposed, with discharge rates restricted. The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) had raised objections regarding the adequacy of the drainage strategy and downstream network capacity.
• Air Quality, Land Contamination, Heritage, and Agricultural Land: These aspects were assessed, with conditions proposed to manage potential risks, particularly concerning land contamination and archaeological remains.
• Planning Obligations: A Section 106 agreement was proposed to secure a Community Use Agreement for the sports facilities, a financial contribution for bus stop improvements, and a Local Employment and Skills Plan.

The report concluded that, despite the Green Belt harm, the combined benefits of the scheme, including strategic sporting need, community access, economic benefits, and sustainable design, were considered to constitute very special circumstances justifying planning permission.

Other Planning Applications

The meeting also scheduled discussion on other planning applications for decision:

• Application 01 (26/01037/FULM): Erection of buildings and sports pitches to form a football training centre with elite, professional, and community facilities, including user and staff accommodation and ancillary facilities, with associated landscaping, access, and parking. This appears to be the same application as detailed above.
• Application 02 (25/02511/COU): Change of use from a 4-bedroom dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a children's residential home (Use Class C2) at 8 Thorncliffe Drive, Stainforth, Doncaster, DN7 5PX. The report pack indicated a proposal was made to grant planning permission, which was then refused.
• Application 03 (07/00261/MINA): Reclamation of quarry by means of the removal of limestone waste and the excavation of limestone to provide stable quarry faces at Nearcliff Quarry, Sheffield Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster. Planning permission was resolved to be granted subject to a Section 106 Agreement and conditions.
• Application 04 (26/00311/FUL): Change of Use from Dwellinghouse (Use Class C3a) to a children's home for 4 children or young people (Use Class C2) including erection of two storey and single storey rear extensions at Havelock House, Common Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster, DN12 2AQ. Planning permission was granted as per the officer's recommendation.
• Application 05 (25/01408/FULM): Variation of condition 2 of planning application 20/00619/FULM for a Rural Leisure Centre including man-made lake, trim trail, tennis courts, cafe, changing facilities, camping and touring caravan pitches, holiday log cabins and car parking at Land South of Hayfield Lane, Auckley. Planning permission was granted subject to conditions.

Appeal Decisions

The committee was also scheduled to note appeal decisions received from the Planning Inspectorate. These included:

• 25/01524/FULM: Erection of industrial storage building, siting of 26 storage containers and ancillary parking/manoeuvring at Former House Of Play, 91 Abbey Road, Dunscroft, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed.
• 25/00865/COU: Change of Use from Retail (Class E) to Bingo and Tanning Salon (Sui Generis) at 22 Baxter Gate, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed.
• 25/01697/FUL: Erection of new self-build dormer bungalow on land adjacent to Conisbrae, Green Lane, Brodsworth, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed.
• 25/00744/OUT: Outline application for erection of detached dwelling and garage at Land Off Fenwick Lane, Fenwick, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed.

The report noted that these decisions demonstrated the ability of applicants to appeal against Local Planning Authority decisions and how those appeals were assessed by the Planning Inspectorate.