Council Agenda Item 110

Subject: 3G Pitches – Use of Crumb Rubber Infill

Date of meeting: 26 March 2026

Proposer: Councillor Earthey

Seconder: Councillor Fishleigh

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Brighton & Hove Independents Group

This council notes:

1. The importance of 3G Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs) for physical wellbeing.

2. The use of Crumb Rubber Infill (CRI) in UK 3G AGPs

3. The disparity in the legal position on CRI between the UK/EU;

4. The growing concerns about the human/environmental health risks posed by CRI in AGPs;

5. Sport England’s funding for 3G CRI contradicts its commitment(1) to carbon neutrality/microplastic reduction;

6. BHCC Policies SU3 (Water Resources and their Quality), Policy DM43 in the Local Plan;

7. The alternative materials to CRI including Biochar-enhanced natural turf, and HydroRock water management;

8. The Petition to Parliament to ban the use of CRI on all new 3G artificial football pitches (2).

This council resolves to:

To request a report from Officers to Cabinet outlining:

a. the health and environmental risks of CRI as, for example, expressed by the UK EA, DEFRA, EU ECHA, and some academic institutions;

b. the current guidance/policies of relevant bodies such as the UK Government, Sports England, this Council, and other relevant bodies allowing the construction of new 3G pitches using CRI;

c. the alternative materials to CRI that could be used in future 3G pitches in the City;

d. the legal options open to BHCC for unilaterally imposing an outright ban on the use of CRI in Council-owned/supported 3G pitches.

To ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Ministers for Health and Sport to ask for a rapid resolution of the misalignment of UK with EU law on the use of CRI in 3G AGPs.

Footnotes

1. Sport England "Every Move" (2024) strategy

2. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752679