Hornchurch School 3G Pitch Approved Despite Residents’ Objections as Neighbours Warn of Late-Night Disruption

30th October 202630th October 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments 3G Pitch, Campion, Havering Council, Hornchurch min read

Residents living near Campion School have been left deeply disappointed after Havering Council’s Planning Committee approved an application for a new 3G sports pitch, despite strong local opposition and a petition signed by 590 people. More than 40 residents attended the Town Hall to make their concerns known, with neighbours warning that the proposed pitch, floodlighting and additional car park could have a significant impact on their daily lives.

Platford Green residents outside the Town Hall.

The planning application, P0215.26, was considered by the Planning Committee yesterday, with residents from Platford Green, MacDonald Avenue and surrounding roads raising concerns about the potential impact on nearby homes.

Despite their objections, the committee approved the application, subject to revised conditions which residents say had not been made clear to them at the time of the decision.

The residents are now seeking clarification about the conditions attached to the approval and what they will mean in practice.

One resident told The Havering Daily that the proximity of the proposed pitch to neighbouring properties was a particular concern.

“The pitch is just 23 metres from my fence. The lights are on until 10 pm on the pitches at the Campion school they already have. We got 590 signatures of people this pitch will impact.

“A new car park will also be built meaning residents nearby will hear cars, doors slamming, talking until late. Everything is so wrong about this planning application it will be horrendous.

“We have already put complaints on all the other existing pitches where the lights are on so late. This will be awful for residents living here.”

Residents say they are already concerned about the impact of floodlighting from the school’s existing pitches and fear the proposed development could add to the disruption.

Their concerns include the hours of operation, lighting, drainage, environmental impacts and the effect of additional activity and vehicle movements on residential amenity.

The petition, which attracted 590 signatures, reflects the level of concern among those who believe the development could affect their neighbourhood.

Questions over the planning decision

Residents have also raised questions about the committee vote, describing confusion over whether the application had secured the necessary majority.

According to the residents, the chair initially appeared to believe the application had not been approved, before the council’s legal officer advised that the vote was sufficient for the application to pass.

They also highlighted the voting positions of councillors, saying three Reform councillors abstained, one Reform councillor voted in favour, and a Residents’ councillor left the meeting because of a declared interest.

The voting arrangements and the legal basis for the decision have not been independently reviewed by The Havering Daily.

Residents are particularly keen to see the revised conditions attached to the approval, saying these were not clear at the time of the meeting.

The conditions are important because they establish the requirements the applicant must meet as part of the planning permission. Their precise wording will be needed to understand what safeguards have been imposed in response to concerns raised during the planning process.

Residents left disappointed

For residents who attended the meeting, the decision was a bitter disappointment after the time and effort spent preparing objections and gathering support.

They believe their concerns about the effect on nearby homes deserved greater consideration and are worried about what the development could mean for the area once the pitch is operational.

For the residents who gathered at the Town Hall, the immediate priority is to understand exactly what has been approved and what protections will be in place for those living closest to the proposed pitch.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!