Club aims for match funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund
A view towards the application site and existing stand at Warrington Town FC, as included in a report to the council’s development management committee(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Plans for new seated stands at Warrington Town FC’s ground have been given the green light.
The club’s application proposing two additional stands for 200 seated spectators at the Cal.Delivery Stadium, in the existing standing area, came before the council’s development management committee on Thursday.
The site is located on Common Lane.
The proposed development involves the construction of two areas of additional seating either side of the existing covered standing area at the Cantilever Bridge end of the ground.
Subject to receiving match funding from the Premier League Stadium Fund, the club aim to have the stands operational by the start of next season.
The structures would both be 3.4m in height, 13.5m in width and 3m in depth.
A report to the committee said: “Each structure would hold 100 seats resulting in a total of 200 new seats. The areas either side of the existing stand where the new seating would be located are currently used as a standing area for larger attendances, a thoroughfare or a location for additional catering vehicles as demand dictates.
“The maximum capacity of the stadium is 3094 fans, which is determined in relation to health and safety, so is not controlled by the planning process. As the development would occupy an area already used by spectators for standing, it would not result in an increase to the maximum capacity of the stadium.
“The 2022/23 season saw Warrington Town FC promoted to the National League North, which required the club to meet a number of requirements, including a new seated stand for away supporters, catering and toilets, new turnstiles and access gates.” As stated in the report, these facilities were approved and are located to the western end of the pitch.
The report added: “The club has since been relegated; however, the ambition remains to secure promotion to higher tiers in future and the proposals would help to facilitate this by improving the grounds to potential supporters.”
Committee member Cllr Judith Wheeler said the parking when there are home games is ‘quite problematic’.
“But obviously we’re not increasing the footfall, so there’s nothing we can do about that,” she added.
As recommended, the application was approved subject to conditions.
