PLANS for the construction of a playzone in Holsworthy has moved one step closer after a planning application was submitted seeking permission to convert an area of land at Stanhope Park into the facility.

The Playzone, which was awarded funding for its construction from the Rural England Prosperity Fund is one of three locations in the Torridge District Council area that will benefit from the multi use games area.

It is proposed that the Playzone would feature access control and be open between 8am and 9pm seven days a week. People wishing to use the facility would be required to book a time slot in advance.

The Playzone, if approved will cost approximately £275,000 to construct, according to the announcement from Torridge District Council confirming the three areas which are set to benefit from the initiative.

Active Torridge has been identified as the suitable partner to manage each site, with Torridge District Council managing the maintenance.

In the application it was stated: “This is provided in support of the planning application to construction of a PlayZone (multi-use games area) which includes the following: new sports fencing, floodlight columns with LED lamps, macadam spectator area with benches and bins and PlayZone signage

“This proposal will improve the facilities available at the site especially through the winter months and encourage a wider range of participants.

“Through consultation, Stanhope Park was chosen as a site that would benefit from the construction of a PlayZone facility.

“The PlayZone Programme has been developed to tackle inequalities in physical activity and access to high quality facilities in targeted areas, by The Football Foundation providing funding towards community led spaces. The purpose of the PlayZone Scheme is to invest in areas with the greatest need, with the aim of encouraging specific priority groups to be more active.

“The specific priority groups that The Football Foundation wished to prioritise as part of this scheme are: Lower Socio-Economic Groups, Women and Girls, Disabled people and people with long term health conditions, and ethnically diverse communities.

“This proposal aims to create a facility which supports the delivery of high-quality sport and recreational play by providing a good quality facility that can be used when natural daylight is limited, especially for evening matches, allowing standards in performance to be raised, encourage good social interaction and a general improvement in overall health and providing the opportunity to periodically arrange specialised coaching sessions when natural daylight is limited to further improve skills and performance standards of users.

“The new facility has been designed with the aim of minimising impact to local residents environment where possible, with drainage, fencing, floodlighting and access all designed with construction best practices in mind.”

The plans can be viewed on the Torridge District Council website using reference 1/0906/2025/LA.