Beverley Town Tennis Club celebrates £21,000 in Commuted Sums

Beverley Town Tennis Club have been awarded £21,000 funding from East Riding of Yorkshire Council as part of Commuted Sums, collected from nearby housing developers. The funding has been awarded to resurface two existing Macadam Tennis Courts at the club, which is based on Norwood.

In addition to the £21,000 Commuted Sums funding, the club have also been awarded £1,000 from Tesco Bags for Help, as well as receiving £3,000 from Beverley Town Cricket and Recreation Club and £2,000 of the club’s own funds.

The Lawn Tennis Association had assessed the existing courts and concluded that the works needed to be undertaken.  For the club, which was formed 100 years ago in 1919, this resurfacing allows them to provide a year-round playing surface which can be enjoyed by all members.

Paul Barnett, Club Captain and President of Beverley Town Tennis Club, said: “The courts were installed a good while ago, so it’s great to get the funding to make them safer now.”

Developers are required to provide Outdoor Playing Space (OPS) as part of all new residential developments above a certain size.  This requirement is highlighted in the East Riding Local Plan, supported by the Supplementary Planning Document. 

Outdoor Playing Space is specified as space that is available for sport, active recreation or children’s play. The space must be of a suitable size and design for its intended purpose, accessible and available to the general public.

When a developer cannot provide this within the development itself, a sum of money known as a commuted sum may be paid in lieu of this, by the developer entering into an agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.