Clayponds Football Foundation PlayZone Approved
Upgraded sports court to replace existing facilities
An example of a PlayZone at another location. Picture: Football Foundation
October 2, 2026
Hounslow Council has approved plans to replace the existing multi-use games area (MUGA) at Clayponds Open Space, W5 4RQ, with a modern Football Foundation PlayZone. The decision made at the end of last monthgrants permission for a full redevelopment of the current court, including new fencing, LED floodlighting, resurfacing and associated equipment.
The application, P/2026/1676, was submitted by MUGA-UK on behalf of the Football Foundation and the London Borough of Hounslow. It forms part of a national programme aimed at improving access to high-quality sports facilities, particularly in areas where physical activity levels are lowest.
The new PlayZone will replace the existing asphalt court with a 20m x 30m acrylic-coated macadam pitch, a 30m x 2m spectator zone, and upgraded fencing rising to 4 metres behind the goals. LED floodlighting on 8-metre columns will provide controlled illumination, with lighting designed to avoid spill into neighbouring homes.
Additional features include benches, bins, basketball hoops, a storage container and an electronic SmartAccess gate system to manage bookings.
Only one objection was received during consultation, raising concerns about increased parking pressure and higher footfall from both the PlayZone and nearby developments.
The council’s delegated report concluded that these concerns would not justify refusal. It noted that:
- The PlayZone replaces an existing MUGA that currently has no control over user numbers.
- The new facility will operate through an online booking system, regulating attendance and therefore limiting car use.
- Clayponds Estate has unrestricted parking, but the PlayZone is intended primarily for local residents, not a wider catchment.
The report also found no unacceptable impacts on noise, lighting or neighbour amenity, with floodlights restricted between 22:00 and 08:00 and designed to prevent glare or light spill.
The council determined that the proposal complies with Local Plan policies supporting improvements to outdoor sports facilities. Although the upgraded PlayZone occupies slightly more space than the existing court, officers concluded it would deliver an overall enhancement to Clayponds Open Space.
The PlayZone is being presented as an upgrade on the existing facilities in the estate
The report states that the openness of the site would be “mostly unchanged besides the addition of the floodlighting and fencing,” and that the moss-green fencing and controlled lighting would minimise visual impact.
Two Category C trees will be removed as part of the works. The biodiversity metric submitted with the application shows a net loss of habitat units, meaning the developer must purchase 0.16 low-quality habitat units to achieve the required 10% Biodiversity Net Gain as a condition of being granted planning permission.
The Football Foundation’s PlayZone programme targets communities with lower physical activity levels, prioritising women and girls, disabled people, those with long-term health conditions and ethnically diverse groups.
The Clayponds proposal includes colour-coated porous surfacing, improved drainage, controlled lighting and a booking system designed to balance open community access with structured sessions for priority groups.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the new PlayZone opening in 2027.
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