Go ahead for Harrogate AFC Redevelopment
Harrogate Town AFC has been given the green light for the redevelopment of their Wetherby Road ground, adding new facilities and almost doubling capacity.
The development will support the club’s aim of eventually securing promotion to the Football League.
The club’s application was granted approval at a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee yesterday on 24 April 2018.
Proposals include a new two-storey clubhouse, seated terraces, an office building, classrooms to be used as community facilities and a new, improved floodlighting solution. The club’s recently-installed 3G playing pitch was also approved by members.
The development will increase the capacity of the ground from 2,800 spectators to about 5,000.
Harrogate Town AFC was advised on its application by advised by Indigo Planning and the scheme was designed by Bowman Riley Architects.
The club has used the site for training and matches since 1919 and spectator facilities have been expanded in recent years.
They have ambitions to get promoted from National League North to the National League and eventually the Football League. To meet this target, an upgrade and improvement to the playing and spectator facilities is required to meet the Football Association’s (FA) requirements.
Harrogate Town managing director Garry Plant said:
“The football club has been at the heart of the Harrogate community for nearly 100 years. We are delighted that the planning committee supported this sensitively designed scheme which will help us achieve our ambitions. The club is committed to delivering a high quality facility that the local community can be proud of.”
David Smith, associate at Indigo, added:
“We have worked closely with the club, the council’s officers, the design team and local community to secure this permission. Given the site’s location, it was essential that we engaged with the local community throughout the planning process and respond to their feedback. The scheme has evolved over the last 7 months as a result of these discussions.”
Darren Bush, director at Bowman Riley Architects commented:
“We have worked together with Harrogate Town and the whole team to create a design which not only meets the demands of the club but is also sensitive to the site constraints and the closer and wider neighbourhood environment. We are delighted that planning has been approved for the exciting expansion plans for the club. The new and improved facilities will really make a difference to the future of the club that continues to go from strength to strength.”
We are delighted that planning has been approved for the exciting expansion plans for the club. The new and improved facilities will really make a difference to the future of the club that continues to go from strength to strength”
Consultant team members include; Bowman Riley (design), Indigo (planning), Curtins (flood risk, drainage, geo-environmental and transport), SJB Floodlighting (lighting), Apex Acoustics (noise), Smeeden Foreman (arboriculture and ecology), GWPS (sustainability).
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