The school hope the new facility, a 30m by 15m artificial pitch, will provide opportunities for sports activity for students throughout the year, something previously hampered in wet and cold months due to the rains impact on their playing fields.
Plans for the 450 sq m all-weather MUGA were granted by Bromsgrove District Council in October with planning officers citing improved opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation, particularly during inclement weather.
Helen Willains, deputy head said: “The MUGA facility will drastically improve the sporting offer available at Lickey Hills Primary School and Nursery.
“Previously in the colder and wetter months our playing field was quite unusable, as we are on the side of a hill the ground would get too boggy and wet to be safe for use.
“This led to all PE and sports being held on the playgrounds which is quite limited in opportunities for our children.”
The proposals were deemed to be in line with Sport England’s policies and have not infringed on green belt policies, or any local development plans including those in Lickey, Blackwell, Cofton Hackett and the wider Bromsgrove area.
Some causes for concern were highlighted by the council surrounding noise pollution from balls hitting the boundary fences, with plans granted on the condition of the inclusion of mitigating infrastructure to reduce noise.
Previous concerns expressed by Severn Trent Water regarding drainage have been overcome by improved plans for drainage and a soakaway linking to existing nearby sewage infrastructure.
Helen Willains added: “With the new MUGA in place our children will have access to a fantastic facility all year round.
“We are optimistic we will be able to host sports fixtures and tournaments for schools in the future too.”
