Sports centre seeks more parking as visits set to rise by 50,000

A North Yorkshire sports centre is seeking permission to create 44 additional parking spaces to cope with a significant increase in people using its facilities.

Sandylands Sports Centre in Skipton says annual visits are expected to rise from around 200,000 to 250,000 by the end of 2026 following the opening of a £1.3m extension earlier this year.

The new Roger Beck Sports Facility, which opened in May, includes a dedicated gymnastics centre, martial arts hub and café.

Planning documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council say the development has already led to a significant increase in sports participation, particularly in gymnastics and karate.

The centre now wants to create an additional car park, including 44 spaces and a drop-off area, on a grassed site alongside its existing all-weather pitch.

The application states that existing parking facilities are already extremely well used, with a temporary overflow car park opened in November 2025 now regularly accommodating additional vehicles.

However, that temporary parking area is on land earmarked for three outdoor tennis courts, or a combination of tennis, padel and pickleball courts.

Once funding becomes available for those facilities, the overflow parking will be lost.

The planning statement says: “Following the completion of the £1.3 million 'Roger Beck Sports Facility' at Sandylands Sports Centre, there has been a significant increase in sports participation, especially in Gymnastics and Karate.”

It adds that annual usage is expected to increase by around 50,000 visits.

The proposed new car park would occupy approximately 0.17 hectares of grassland between the all-weather pitch and Engine Shed Lane.

Plans include a permeable reinforced surface allowing grass to grow through, designed to retain the area's open appearance while providing suitable drainage.

Two trees would be removed, although the sports centre intends to plant 30 native trees, including silver birch, rowan and wild cherry.

The proposal follows a £63,000 traffic management improvement scheme at Sandylands, which includes new pedestrian walkways, additional disabled parking, a bus bay and improved road markings.

Sandylands Sports Centre is a registered charity run by a voluntary management committee.

It provides facilities for local schools, sports clubs and community groups, with users including Skipton Girls' High School, Ermysted's Grammar School and Craven College.

North Yorkshire Council will determine the planning application.