Plymouth Argyle supporters’ group win consent for temporary hospitality marquee

A Plymouth Argyle supporters group has been given permission for a temporary hospitality marquee on land at Home Park football ground.

The Green Taverners (GTs) sought consent from Plymouth City Council to put a 35x15m structure to the south of the Mayflower Grandstand for three years.

The council’s planning committee voted in favour giving the GTs six months from the date of opening to submit a management plan for the facility. Councillors agreed that a travel plan and showers for staff, recommended by officers, was not necessary.

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The application, which includes portacabin toilets, was expected to be decided by officers through delegated powers but was called to committee by ward member Cllr Kate Taylor (Lab, Ham) because of one resident’s concerns over noise, loss of public amenity, impact on visual amenity as well as parking pressures.

There was a total of 114 letters in support of the marquee plan.

Committee members heard that there had been a marquee on this site in the past before the Taverners got permission for a permanent building in 2018 which they later sold to Plymouth Argyle.

Town planner representing applicants Plymouth Argyle and GT Graham Clark said the group of volunteers was set up to support staff who went without pay during the administration period of the club in 2011.

Since then the private club of 700 members had organised events on behalf of supporters and had raised over £250,000 for charitable purposes.

Mr Clark disputed the need for a management and travel plan as he said there had been a marquee on the land for 16 of the last 20 years without any issues.

He said the group had already lost £50,000 through delays in the planning process.

The marquee would have a capacity of 450 to 600 people and be used as a supporters’ bar open to Green Taverners members but also available for events such as fundraisers and birthday parties.

It was a temporary solution as they were awaiting a masterplan for the development of the Mayflower Quarter area of Home Park.

Highways officers had raised concerns about the intensive use of the site but councillors took the view that users of the marquee would already be among the many thousands who attended Argyle on match days.

The single storey steel marquee with white PVC faced panels and a pitched canvas style roof would be largely screened from public views, said officers, and was 250 metres from the nearest residents.

Opening hours will be restricted to 8am to 12.30am.

Cllr Jeremy Goslin (Lab, Peverell) said he could remember huge pride when the GTs were able to build a permanent base after many decades.

“It’s a real shame that they happened to open the bar at beginning of covid and sadly had to give this up to Argyle and move back into a marquee, he said.

Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Ind, Plympton St Mary) said if it was not for the Taverners, Plymouth Argyle may not be here today.

Cllr Anne Freeman (Lab, Devonport) said the GTs had done some “amazingly brilliant work” but something had to be in place for noise and security management.

“Whilst this is only a temporary planning application, three years is still a very long time and we have no paperwork to go back to should there be any issues,” she said.

“I would be very uncomfortable if we didn’t have this in place and we would expect it from any other applicant wanting to do something in Central Park.”