The City of Doncaster Council's Planning Committee met on Tuesday 28 July 2026 to consider a range of planning applications and appeal decisions. The meeting's agenda included a schedule of applications for decision, with a significant focus on a major development proposal for a football training centre, and a report on recent appeal decisions.

Football Training Centre Development in Bawtry

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a major planning application for a football training centre at Land North of Martin Grange Farm, Martin Grange Farm Lane, Bawtry¹. The proposal, which had been previously refused by the committee, sought permission for the erection of buildings and sports pitches to form an elite, professional, and community football training centre.

The report pack detailed that the application was a resubmission of a previous scheme that was refused in February 2026. The primary change in the current proposal was the incorporation of Martin Grange Cottage and Ravenglade within the application site, with a proposed change of use to accommodation ancillary to the training centre. This amendment aimed to address previous concerns regarding residential amenity.

The development proposed included an Elite Training Centre (ETC) and a Professional Training Centre (PTC), along with multiple full-size football pitches, a covered show pitch with spectator stands, a padel court building, and associated ancillary facilities, landscaping, access, and parking. The applicant, Mr Charles Dunn of Urbana Town Planning, was scheduled to speak in support of the application.

The report highlighted that the site lies within the Green Belt, and the proposal was considered inappropriate development, attracting substantial weight in the planning balance. The report detailed extensive considerations regarding the principle of development, landscape impact, character and design, local amenity, highway safety, ecology and biodiversity net gain, flooding and drainage, air quality, land contamination, heritage, and agricultural land.

The report also outlined the proposed planning obligations, including a restriction on the use of Martin Grange Cottage and Ravenglade to staff accommodation, a Community Use Agreement to secure community access to facilities, a financial contribution towards bus stop improvements, and a Local Employment and Skills Plan.

The Bawtry Town Council had submitted comments noting potential economic and community benefits but maintaining concerns regarding the Green Belt location, potential future expansion, traffic impacts, and effects on nearby residential properties. They also requested direct financial investment into local community facilities. The officer's note indicated that these requests were considered but did not meet the statutory tests for planning obligations.

Appeal Decisions

The committee was also scheduled to receive a report on appeal decisions received from the Planning Inspectorate. This report provided information on decisions made on appeals lodged against previous decisions of the Local Planning Authority. The following appeal decisions were listed for noting:

• 25/01524/FULM: Erection of industrial storage building, siting of 26 storage containers and ancillary parking/manoeuvring at Former House Of Play, 91 Abbey Road, Dunscroft, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed on 8 July 2026.
• 25/00865/COU: Change of Use from Retail (Class E) to Bingo and Tanning Salon (Sui Generis) at 22 Baxter Gate, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed on 30 June 2026.
• 25/01697/FUL: Erection of new self-build dormer bungalow on land adjacent to Conisbrae, Green Lane, Brodsworth, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed on 3 July 2026.
• 25/00744/OUT: Outline application for erection of detached dwelling and garage at Land Off Fenwick Lane, Fenwick, Doncaster. The appeal was dismissed on 10 July 2026.

The report indicated that these decisions demonstrated the ability of applicants to appeal against Local Planning Authority decisions and how those appeals were assessed by the Planning Inspectorate.