ACCRINGTON and Rossendale College’s new £2million sports hall is set to get the go ahead today despite neighbours’ objections over traffic, noise and nuisance.

Officials have recommended councillors approve the scheme although it involves building on land designated as countryside.

The 35 foot-high building will be an extension to an existing pavilion on the Broad Oak Campus looking over open fields.

An access road will be relocated to accommodate it.

The sports hall, part funded by Sport England, would host a variety of sports, including football, netball, hockey, and cricket.

It will also include a fitness suite with cardiovascular and resistance training equipment, as well as solar panels.

The red and grey brick building will be 120 feet long and 70 feet wide.

Officers have told Hyndburn Borough Council’s Planning Committee, which meets this morning in the Queen Elizabeth Room at Scaitcliffe House in Accrington, they should approve the application with strict conditions.

This is despite “a number of objections received from residents of Broad Oak Road about the impact the development will have on the road” and concerns about noise and disturbance from construction traffic.

The officers report concludes: “Although the development of a large scale sports hall would not normally be appropriate within an area designated as countryside, the fact that the site immediately abuts the existing campus and associated buildings within the urban boundary means the proposed development is able to satisfy the borough’s policy criteria.

“It is recommended the urban boundary is reviewed in this area to reflect the changes that have taken place to Accrington and Rossendale College since 1996.”

The design statement given to the committee says: “Recent developments at the site have added a football pitch which is now used all year round by both students and the wider community.

“However, the facilities available at the college for indoor sports are not up to the standard required.”

The conditions include restrictions on hours of use and landscaping to reduce the impact on nearby houses.