Go ahead for new sports facilities at Fishers Field in Blackpool with funding from the Football Foundation

Proposals to build new facilities at a Blackpool sports ground have got the go-ahead from town hall planners.

The scheme will see an existing multi-use games area (MUGA) at Fisher's Field on Highfield Road, South Shore, replaced with a new Playzone with improved surfaces and floodlighting. It will primarily provide playing areas for football and basketball, with funding being provided by the Football Foundation. The aim is to provide sporting opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

Labosport, a specialist in fitting bespoke sports surfaces, has been hired to carry out the work. The surface will be durable, low maintenance and designed for year-round use.

In documents accompanying the plans, it said: "Labosport believe the development of a PlayZone in the proposed location will provide a high-quality sporting and activity space.The development aims to tackle inequalities in participation in sport and activity in the area."

Four floodlights will also be installed to enable the facilities to be used in the evenings. The PlayZone will need to be booked in advance using an app, with electronic access provided to users.

Planners, who approved the application using delegated powers, said the facility was not expected to produce late-night noise but would be monitored to ensure nearby residents were not disturbed.

A council report says: "It is quite a small area, but does have benches for watching the activities and there are no limitations specified regarding which sorts of activities can take place at what times. As such, there are concerns that match activity during the later hours could have detrimental impacts on residential amenity."

The report adds the council has not received noise complaints in relation to other similar facilities around the town so it was proposed to allow the PlayZone to operate until 10pm for a test period of 12 months.

After the test period, the closing time will reduce to 8pm with a further application required to vary the opening hours to 10pm providing it can be shown "the extended hours have had no unacceptable impacts." Netting will also be used to prevent balls from flying over into a neighbouring allotment site after concerns were raised during consultation.