West Lothian Council’s Executive has been asked to approve a plan proposing a 30- year lease of Pumpherston Juniors’ ground at Drumshoreland Place in the village to Livingston FC.
Livingston Football Club has teamed up with one of the county’s most famous teams with plans which will create a dedicated training facility for the club, and boost facilities for one of the county’s oldest clubs.
West Lothian Council’s Executive has been asked to approve a plan proposing a 30- year lease of Pumpherston Juniors’ ground at Drumshoreland Place in the village to Livingston FC.
Currently Pumpherston Juniors Football Club (PJFC)- originally founded in 1896- lease the football ground from the council under the terms of a Community Benefit ground lease that is due to run until 31 March 2041.
The facilities at the ground include an 11-a-side grass pitch, a small sports court with a synthetic surface, changing facilities and car parking. The site is the home ground of PJFC, who currently play in the East of Scotland pyramid system.
The council has been approached jointly by PJFC and Livingston Football Club (LFC) with a proposal that would see PJFC renounce their existing Community Benefit lease and a new thirty-year commercial lease of the facilities at Drumshoreland Place granted in favour of LFC.
Under that joint proposal, LFC would undertake significant capital investment in the facilities at the football ground, replacing the existing grass pitch with a new 3G pitch, as well as installing new flood lighting and providing modern changing facilities.
The proposed works would be fully funded by LFC and would significantly improve and modernise the existing facilities at the ground.
The proposed new lease to LFC and their subsequent capital investment would mean LFC has a dedicated training facility for their first team, women’s team, reserves team, along with their nine affiliated clubs.
LFC also have a Scottish Football Association (SFA) requirement to convert the existing synthetic playing surface at the Almondvale Stadium to grass ahead of the 2027 season and the proposed new lease would ensure they continue to have access to training facilities during the new pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium.
If LFC do not have access to alternative training facilities during the pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium, they would be unable to install that new pitch, which is an SFA requirement should LFC secure promotion back into the Scottish Premiership.
LFC have explored the provision of training facilities in and around the footprint of Almondvale Stadium, however it has not been possible to identify a viable solution due to the physical restrictions of the property.
PJFC supports the proposal, and their own security of tenure at Drumshoreland Place would be secured by way of a legally binding sub-lease between themselves and LFC that would run concurrently with the proposed new thirty-year lease between LFC and the council.
Under the terms of that sublease, PJFC would have access to the facilities to fulfil their home fixtures and training sessions at no cost to PJFC.
The lease would generate £10,000 per annum for the council.
Council officers are recommending that it is considered to be in the council’s best interests for the existing lease to PJFC to be renounced, for a new thirty-year lease to be granted to LFC.
The council’s Executive will decide on Tuesday.
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