The Committee rejected the application on the grounds that it was felt to be of an "inappropriate scale" for its location in the countryside, despite the sporting benefits the scheme would bring.
The application sought consent to develop a 10.7-hectare plot at Greenlands Farm, which included a football ground for AFC Fylde with a stand and seating for up to 2,500 spectators.
The Councillors concluded that it would detract from the "intrinsic value" of the countryside and represent “unconvincing urbanisation” of Wrea Green that was not outweighed by the sporting and economic benefits of the scheme, the Council said.
Planning was also refused because the committee decided that the development would, if approved, detract from the open nature of the countryside between Wrea Green and Kirkham. Concerns were also raised about noise and light to neighbouring properties.
A football pavilion, a floodlit artificial football pitch, a hockey pavilion, a floodlit hockey pitch and a jogging trail had also been proposed.
“This has been a finely balanced planning application that we felt was out of character for such a rural location," said Councillor Ben Aitken, development management committee chairman. “Fylde Council is all for well-planned development, but members believed it was too big and too intrusive for the area. We greatly support sporting activities and try to encourage sports-related developments but this was simply unacceptable in a number of ways."
“One hundred members of the public were present to hear the debate and both supporters and opponents of the plan presented extremely well-argued points. Everyone was respectful of the seriousness of the debate and all were a credit to the Fylde community,” he added.
