The upcoming Hounslow Council Planning Committee meeting will decide on whether to approve a planning application to rejuvenate the Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground.

The proposal, encompassing multi-sports pitches, all-weather facilities, and renovations to the Grade II Listed Polytechnic Stadium, has ignited community concerns, with over half of the 28 responses expressing objections.

Plans include a full-size adult artificial grass football/rugby pitch, a new multi-sport pitch, a resurfaced hockey pitch, cricket practice nets, grass cricket squares, and padel courts.

Renovations to the historic Polytechnic Stadium involve accessibility improvements, seating upgrades, energy efficiency measures like solar panels, air source heat pumps and more.

Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground's proposed plans for new cricket, hockey, padel and rugby sapces (credit: Planning application).

Consultation efforts involved 118 neighbouring properties, resulting in 28 responses during the period from July 11 to July 28, 2023.

Some of the community objections focused on things such as: The new vehicle access point causing disruption to the public, congestion, increased rubbish, noise and loss of green vegetation.

One resident said: "New vehicular access point and pedestrian entrance at the junction of Spencer Road and Cavendish Road would be dangerous for cars, pedestrians and cyclists."

The report responded by saying: "Local Plan policy EC2 seeks to promote a more sustainable local travel network and maximise opportunities for walking, cycling and using public transport.

"Developments should provide at least a minimum number of cycle spaces and an appropriate maximum number of car spaces consistent with London Plan standards."

The unused Grandstand (left) and the proposed Grandstand (right) (credit: Planning application).

Another resident said: "Not a community project but for the pupils of the private school on-site, with a few occasional side benefits for the rest of the community."

In response, the report said: "By installing new pitches, the Sports Ground could provide a greater variety of facilities to the school, the local clubs and the general public, in which pedal tennis and rugby would be allowed to be played on site.

"The submitted documents have also shown that there would be an increase in playing hours from 506 hours to 578 hours in a month after the development.

"Latymer school students would benefit the most, meanwhile, local sports clubs and community users would also have a higher usage. There would also be a wider community outreach programme of sport."

An existing hockey pitch at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground (credit: Planning application).

The Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground plans was created back in 1903 and includes the Grade II listed modernist style grandstand at the centre built in 1936.

To read the full Planning Committee report on Quintin Hogg Memorial Sports Ground's proposals, click here.

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