Plans for 200 homes and sports hub announced

Concerns have been voiced

Plympton could be getting 14 new sports pitches alongside a development of 200 homes.

The land at Boringdon Park is alongside an area already granted planning permission for 550 new dwellings at Coypool Park that includes care homes, a community hub and about 40 acres of open space and woodland.

Applicant South West Strategic Developments says the new scheme will “complement” that development.

Planning documents show the proposals include a woodland buffer to protect the ancient Woodford Wood, a Country Wildlife Site (CWF).

The plan is for 30 hectares of agricultural land (the size of about 50 football pitches) with 60 of the homes expected to be affordable. Access would be from the new Coypool Park estate.

The plans include electric car charging, car club spaces, e-bike hire and cycle parking and a hill top park.

The sports hub will have changing rooms, a cafe and function rooms and will provide 14 football pitches, four tennis courts, and 186 parking spaces.

Details will be provided at a later design stage if planning permission is granted by Plymouth City Council.

Agent for the applicant Grassroots Planning Ltd said the land was identified as an option in the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan for playing pitches and affordable housing when it became clear that the Coypool Park land would struggle to do this.

The city council has also highlighted the need for a significant number of grass pitches for children to play football matches.

Plymouth City councillor Terri Beer (Ind, Plympton Erle) has voiced concerns about the developmen, saying Plympton would be overwhelmed with new homes and no new infrastructure such as health facilities are proposed to cope with it.

An additional 550 homes were earmarked for Plympton at two other sites, she said.