Shropshire school wants to build games area citing 'clear demand from the wider community'

A multi-use games area (MUGA) could be built at a north Shropshire school.

Weston Rhyn Primary School has applied for planning permission for the MUGA at its playing field.

Lighting, surfacing and ancillary works are all part of the application.

The Station Road school currently has 191 pupils on its books, including nursery-aged children.

However headteacher Suzi Bray said numbers are expected to increase in the coming years due to new housing developments in the area. This, Mrs Bray added, is likely to place additional demand on the school’s facilities, including outdoor play and sports provision.

"There is clear demand from the wider community for access to a MUGA," she said.

"Local interest has already been expressed by community sports clubs, including a girls’ football team, highlighting the need for a safe, high-quality sporting space that can be used beyond the school day.

"The development of a MUGA would strengthen the school’s role as a community hub and support increased participation in sport locally.

"The MUGA is essential for the school due to restricted playground space, which currently limits opportunities for structured physical education, team sports and sustained physical activity.

"A dedicated sports surface would allow pupils to engage safely in a range of activities without competing for space with free play or movement around the site."

Mrs Bray believes a MUGA would enable the delivery of a broader PE curriculum, including football, netball, basketball, tennis, and other team games - regardless of ground conditions.

"Beyond physical activity, the MUGA would deliver significant health, wellbeing, and social benefits," she said.

"It would support the school’s focus on improving physical and mental wellbeing, encourage positive attitudes towards exercise, and prioritise team sports, which help pupils develop communication skills, resilience, and cooperation.

"The facility would also help build stronger links between the school and the local community, fostering a shared sense of ownership and belonging.

"Overall, the proposed MUGA would address current space limitations, meet growing demand, expand sporting opportunities for pupils of all ages, and deliver long-term benefits for both the school and the wider community."

The proposal can be viewed on Shropshire Council's planning portal (reference number 26/02101/FUL). The consultation period ends on July 8.