Decision made on new floodlighting scheme for stadium

A new floodlighting scheme proposed for part of Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road stadium has been given the green light by planners.

The club was seeking planning consent from Blackpool Council to replace the six tall floodlights currently located at the East Stand with 24 lower-set lights which will lead to less ‘light spillage’.

Now it proposed that the work will be carried out during the summer, once the current football season is over.

The applicants for the scheme were listed as Blackpool Football Club Stadium and Property Limited.

A covering letter from agents PWA Planning states that they have been retained by the club to “progress a full planning application for the replacement of floodlights at Bloomfield Road Stadium, Blackpool.

“The proposal sees the replacement of six floodlights with 24 floodlights erected at a significantly lower height of 1,000mm above the roof of the East Stand, reducing existing light spill.

“The proposed development is the East Stand of Bloomfield Road Stadium, home stadium of Blackpool FC.

“Bloomfield Road is located in a central area of Blackpool, surrounded by key services and national chains of supermarkets, shops and restaurants as well as a number of hotels which serve the high number of tourists that visit Blackpool from across the country.”

The planning document adds: ”The new floodlights are substantially lower in height, and will sit just 1,000mm above the existing East Stand. In terms of design, this is a visual improvement on the existing floodlights.

Assessing the application, the planning officer stated: “The replacement lights would not be out of keeping in their appearance. Their scale and their
number would be proportionate.

“As a result of the location of the surrounding buildings, views of the existing floodlights from the street are limited, but in any case, as the new floodlights would replace existing floodlights, be in the same position and of a lower height and less bulky format, there would be no harm to the street scene from the different appearance.

“Given these factors, it is considered that the design would be acceptable and in accordance with the policies identified above.”