Petition Indoor sports facilities in the green belt should be permitted developments

Following-on from the Olympics there are many community sports clubs in rural areas that need to expand but are unable to do so because of lack of suitable premises. The facilities they need would require a new build or change of use within the Green Belt, and currently these are regarded as inappropriate development, even if they were built on farmland close to existing similar buildings, such as barns.

Such new builds, or change of use, for community sports clubs (Charities and CASCs) should be permitted development as long as they are built to, externally, mimic rural buildings, conform to sports governing body guidelines and are no larger than required for the community.