Coleg Cambria wins Connah’s Quay pitch appeal as planning inspector overturns Flintshire refusal
Coleg Cambria has won its appeal against Flintshire County Council’s refusal of planning permission for an all-weather football pitch at its Deeside campus on Kelsterton Road, Connah’s Quay.
A planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers has allowed the appeal and granted planning permission, subject to conditions.
The decision is dated 1 May 2026.
The college had applied in November 2024 to build the all-weather pitch with floodlighting and fencing on a corner of its Deeside campus, at the junction of Kelsterton Road and Golftyn Lane.
Flintshire County Council’s planning committee refused the application in June 2025, citing concerns about noise, light pollution and highway safety.
The college appealed.
The inspector, Ian Stevens, made a site visit in March, and has now overturned the refusal.
In the published decision, the inspector noted that the council’s own pollution control officer did not object to the application.
The council’s highways development control manager also raised no objection.
On lighting, the decision records that the council’s own appeal statement accepted there was “little light overspill outside of the pitch itself”.
The inspector found that the proposal would not give rise to unacceptable noise levels, would not have a materially harmful effect on the living conditions of nearby residents through lighting, and would not unacceptably impact on local highways.
The pitch will be available for use from 9am to 9pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
Twelve eight-metre floodlights will be installed around the perimeter, with cover shields required to reduce light spill.
Seventeen trees will be removed to make way for construction.
The inspector has required replacement planting at a ratio of three new trees for every one removed, with a separate biodiversity enhancement scheme to be approved by the council before development begins.
Cambria’s Head of Commercial Operations, Maria Stevens, said: “We are absolutely delighted the appeal has been successful and that this important project can now move forward.
This facility is about far more than sport – it will create an inclusive, accessible space supporting the health and wellbeing of people of all ages across north east Wales. It will be truly impactful.
We’re pleased the decision by Flintshire County Council has been reconsidered and look forward to bringing this vision to life for Coleg Cambria and the wider community.”
The college has also made a separate application for costs against Flintshire County Council in connection with the refusal.
That application will be the subject of a separate decision and has not yet been published.
Coleg Cambria’s existing Deeside campus facilities are used by around 20 local clubs, including women’s netball squads, the Connah’s Quay Tigers Pan-Disability football team, athletes and primary and secondary schools.
The all-weather pitch scheme has been backed by the Cymru Football Foundation and the Johan Cruyff Foundation.
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