Cllr. Jacob Allen

BH2024/02499 – Longhill School, Falmer Road, Rottingdean

20^th September 2025:

I am writing to place my firm support behind the planning application for a 3G pitch at Longhill High School on Falmer Road in Rottingdean. Longhill High School is the catchment school for Woodingdean where many of my constituents send their children.

Access to high-quality sporting facilities is vital for young people, schools, and grassroots clubs across our city. A modern, all-weather 3G pitch at Longhill would provide a much-needed resource for both the school community and the wider local area, helping to increase participation in sport and physical activity throughout the year.

This investment would be of particular benefit to local clubs such as Woodingdean Wanderers FC, who provide opportunities for children and young people to play football in an accessible, inclusive, and community-focused environment. The rapidly increasing popularity of girls football in particular is putting stress on sites locally, and this development would help to alleviate that issue. A 3G surface would ensure that fixtures can go ahead reliably year-round, allowing the continuation of the sports and exercise through difficult weather for instance in the winter.

Beyond football, the new pitch would open opportunities for a range of sports and activities, encouraging healthier lifestyles and supporting social cohesion within our community. It would also strengthen Longhill High School’s role as a hub for sport and wellbeing in the east of the city.

This plan tries to minimise the impact on local residents and represents a pragmatic approach that puts young people and the local community at its heart. Having met with the Business Manager at Longhill High School, I am content that adequate measures have been considered to mitigate potential impacts on the amenity of neighbouring residents.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to counter some of the claims made by Councillor Fishleigh in her letter of objection. She states there is overcapacity in the east of the city, noting how all other educational institutions within a ten-minute drive of the school have this kind of facility. A PE lesion is an hour long and therefore a 20-minute round trip drive would erase a 1/3 of the lesson. That is unacceptable and would negatively impact educational outcomes of pupils. Parking that aside, the Football Foundation are confident that demand is present to make this development sustainable even when considering existing sites.

Councillor Fishleigh’s also objects based on the environmental impact of 3G pitches. BHCC already specifies that all new 3G pitches must meet the latest EU and UK safety standards. In consultation with Sport England and environmental regulators, the council will continue to monitor the regulatory position and act if national guidance changes. Environmental regulations do not support giving this argument significant material weight.

I therefore strongly support this proposal and urge its approval so that we Longhill High School can provide the facilities our community want and deserve.