01/11/2026
💡 Uddingston Grammar artificial pitches – floodlighting update
At our October meeting, we discussed South Lanarkshire Council's decision not to enforce the existing planning condition restricting the use of floodlights at the Uddingston Grammar School artificial pitches.
The original planning condition was put in place to address concerns raised by neighbouring residents and helped allow the development to proceed with safeguards in place.
South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture subsequently applied to extend the permitted floodlighting hours. However, this application was withdrawn following objections, including one from Uddingston Community Council.
Despite this, South Lanarkshire Council has now decided not to enforce the existing planning condition, effectively giving South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture unrestricted control over when the floodlights can be used.
This raises a wider question about the planning process. If conditions are introduced to address residents' concerns and allow developments to proceed, what is the point of those conditions if they can subsequently be disregarded without going through the formal planning process?
Following concerns raised by a resident, Uddingston Community Council voted in favour of submitting a formal complaint to South Lanarkshire Council. Other recipients of this complaint may include the trustees of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
The complaint concerns the decision-making process and the failure to enforce the original planning condition, rather than simply the use of the floodlights.
It was agreed that the complaint would be withdrawn if the outcome of a planned meeting satisfactorily addresses residents' concerns.
We will continue to follow developments and share updates.
💬 What are your views on planning conditions being introduced to address residents' concerns but subsequently not being enforced?
Update -
Condition 14 of planning permission HM/07/0434 (amendment to HM/05/0615) states:
“That the floodlighting of the synthetic sports pitch hereby granted consent shall be limited to between 9am and 6pm. The light units shall be fitted with cowls so that light beams are directed down towards the surface of the pitches.”
In correspondence dated 22 May 2026, South Lanarkshire Council confirmed that this condition remains in place and acknowledged that use of the floodlights beyond 6pm constitutes a technical breach.
However, the Council stated that, following a review, it did not consider formal enforcement action to be proportionate or expedient, as planning enforcement is a discretionary power.
