The town council has objected to Bishop’s Stortford Football Club’s plans to replace its grass pitch with a 3G all-weather surface.
The semi-professional club, which plays in the Southern League’s Premier Central division, has asked East Herts Council for planning permission to upgrade facilities at its Woodside Park stadium, including the artificial pitch, new dugouts and new lighting.
The move has been welcomed by Bishop’s Stortford Community Football Club, one of the largest youth football set-ups in the country, as a way of easing a chronic shortage of pitches for its 85 teams, who train or play matches at six locations around the town plus Albury.
The artificial pitch would conform to FA, FIFA and Sport England specifications, but Bishop’s Stortford Town Council said it would pollute the environment with microplastics.
Its planning and development committee members said: “It doesn’t support natural ecosystems like real grass does, which absorbs carbon dioxide and supports biodiversity.
“The manufacturing and transport of artificial turf create a significant carbon footprint.
Bishop’s Stortford Football Club
“Artificial grass can get extremely hot in direct sunlight, making it unsuitable for playing on in the summer.”
The application is one of eight for Bishop’s Stortford validated by East Herts Council in the first half of October.
33 Corn Road, St Michael’s Hurst, Bishop’s Stortford
Construction of a single-storey rear extension.
Ref. No: 3/25/1597/CLPO | Received: Wed 8 Oct 2025 | Validated: Wed 8 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
131 Waytemore Road, Bishop’s Stortford
Ground-floor rear extension.
Ref. No: 3/25/1582/CLPO | Received: Fri 3 Oct 2025 | Validated: Fri 3 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
3-5 North Street, Bishop’s Stortford (the vacant former Oxfam)
Application for approval of details reserved by condition 3 (materials) pursuant to planning approval 3/25/1127/LBC.
Ref. No: X/25/0546/CND | Received: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Validated: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
13 Matching Lane, Bishop’s Stortford
Partial conversion of integral garage and enlargement of rear opening to create bifold doors. Alteration to side fenestration.
Ref. No: 3/25/1572/CLPO | Received: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Validated: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Status: Decided.
28 Abbotts Way, Thorley Park, Bishop’s Stortford
Proposed retaining wall (and associated fence replacement) to prevent land spillage onto the existing watercourse/ditch.
Ref. No: 3/25/1552/HH | Received: Mon 29 Sep 2025 | Validated: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
Bishop’s Stortford Football Club, Woodside, Bishop’s Stortford
Installation of 3G Artificial Grass Pitch, associated hardstanding and replacement lighting heads.
Ref. No: 3/25/1527/FUL | Received: Tue 23 Sep 2025 | Validated: Wed 1 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
295-297 Stansted Road, Bishop’s Stortford
Discharge of condition 20 (SuDS Maintenance) attached to 3/24/0863/VAR.
Ref. No: X/25/0508/CND | Received: Fri 12 Sep 2025 | Validated: Thu 2 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
14 Chestnut Close, off Apton Road, Bishop’s Stortford
Internal reconfiguration; loft conversion with rear dormers and installation of two rooflights to front elevation.
Ref. No: 3/25/1467/HH | Received: Wed 10 Sep 2025 | Validated: Mon 06 Oct 2025 | Status: Awaiting decision.
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