After nine months of delays and frustration, Councillors at last night’s Joint Development Control Committee gave the green light to long-awaited sports and recreation facilities for Wixams.

The approval follows the committee’s decision in October 2024 to reject a previous proposal that was rightly met with strong opposition from residents, parish councils, and local councillors due to the loss of key facilities and poor public engagement.

The developers have now listened. The new plans restore critical health and wellbeing priorities, invest in youth provision, and deliver the community infrastructure Wixams was always promised. 

The scheme now includes:

• A dedicated skatepark
• A sports education facility
• A basketball court
• A full range of pitches and courts for football, cricket, padel, tennis, and pétanque.

This is a major win for residents and proof of what can be achieved when councillors, parish councils, and the community refuse to settle for second best.

Councillor Graeme Coombes commented,

“Planning should be for people, not planners. If developers and officers had listened to the community properly in the first place, this nine-month delay could have been avoided. 

We’re pleased to see common sense prevail, and more importantly, to see the people of Wixams finally get the facilities they have waited far too long for.”

Councillor Marc Frost added,

“From day one, we stood with residents in calling for better facilities and genuine engagement. Last night’s decision proves that when communities speak with one voice, they cannot be ignored. 

I am pleased to see the return of the skatepark and sports hub, and the inclusion of basketball, which residents have consistently asked for. I’d also like to thank the residents, and in particular Leon, for their persistence in driving this forward.”