Great Sankey Playing Fields, Full Planning

Nuko Planning supported Great Sankey Parish Council in securing planning permission for the installation of a new drainage system at the Parish Playing Fields. Formerly part of an adjacent school’s playing field, the 2.65-hectare site is now publicly accessible and held in freehold by the Parish Council under a covenant requiring its ongoing use and enhancement as playing fields.

Developed in collaboration with the Grounds Management Association, the proposals aim to address poor drainage caused by clay-dominated soils with low infiltration rates. The works include a new system of underground lateral and collector drains, alongside the creation of a detention basin and low-flow channel. Surface water will be directed to a nearby brook via a flow control device, limiting discharge to the 1-in-1-year greenfield runoff rate. In addition to improving year-round usability of the field, the wet detention basin will enhance habitat value across the site.

During consultation, Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) raised concerns about the robustness of the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations, particularly the assumption that hydrological improvements alone would result in measurable biodiversity benefits. In response, we worked closely with a local ecologist to revise the seeding strategy for the drainage basin, opting for a more diverse wet grassland mix (such as Emorsgate EM8) in place of the original amenity seed mix, thereby strengthening the ecological value of the scheme.