An historic East Lancashire football club has seen plans for two new stands and a hospitality area at its stadium approved.
Nelson Football Club, based in Lomeshaye Way, Nelson, has had two separate planning applications given the green light by Pendle Council for the improvements at its Victoria Park ground.
The plans come following a change in club ownership, aiming to improve the offering to supporters who come to watch the club.
The first application will see a new sponsors lounge built at the stadium, while the second is for two new spectator shelters and a food and drink kiosk.
Documents submitted with the plans state: “Within the ground are a small number of old and inefficient buildings that have supported the club for a significant number of years.
“The club is within [Level] 10 of the Football League pyramid and has recently been subject to a change in ownership.
“The new owners wish to upgrade and improve facilities at the site to supporters and players and develop the club’s context and presence in the local community, whilst also re-enforcing compliance with The Football Association’s (FA) ground grading criteria.
“As such, a number of proposals for the Victoria Park ground which facilitate an increased spectator capacity and improved fan facilities, enhanced player welfare facilities and improved hospitality and club offerings are planned.”
For the lounge, the plans state: “The proposal is for a sponsors' lounge unit to enable the club to provide accommodation for the main club sponsors to meet and for the club to offer hospitality on matchdays and at other required club events in a heated and covered space.”
On new crowd shelters, it adds: “The proposal is for the siting of three repurposed containers which will enable the club to provide facilities for visiting supporters to shelter in covered areas (two larger containers) and for the provision of a food and drink facility kiosk (smaller central container).
“Such accommodation facilities are now commonly associated with football and other sporting events and will enhance the supporting business and income potential to the club, aligning with the new owner’s aims to improve the associated facilities of the club site.”
The new supporters' shelters will be located behind the goal at the east end of the ground, with the sponsors' lounge situated next to the main stand along the north side of the pitch.
The club said the new facilities will be a “significant upgrade” to its offering for fans and sponsors.
The plans we approved on July 17, and the club wasted no time in getting the new facilities in place ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 season, in which Nelson FC are competing in the North West Counties Football League First Division North, with the first home game of the season later today (Wednesday, July 31) against Steeton.
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