Work to create a new artificial football pitch at Penrith AFC is set to begin in June, Westmorland and Furness Council has announced.
The total cost of the project at the club’s stadium, Frenchfield Park, is to be £870,174 and part of this will be paid for by £605,174 contribution from sports charity the Football Foundation.
The plans came under the spotlight at a meeting of the new council’s cabinet on Monday.
Giles Archibald, cabinet member for climate and biodiversity, said: “I’m delighted by this. This is exactly the sort of thing we should be doing as a council.”
Penrith’s Virginia Taylor, the cabinet member for sustainable communities and localities, suggested the funding could be a “new beginning” for the football club.
A report by David Haughian, assistant director for community infrastructure, outlined the reasons for the proposed new pitch, which is to replace the existing grass surface.
Mr Haughian said the current facilities were unable to accommodate an increase in demand for girls’ football and that there was no provision for winter training.
He said these deficiencies had restricted Penrith AFC’s growth as well as the facilities’ ability to be accessed by the community and utilised for other sports.
The authority owns the freehold of Frenchfield Park. The stadium is leased to Penrith AFC.
“The project supports the vision of the council plan by providing opportunities for children, young people and adults to live healthy, happy lives by increasing participation in sports and physical activity,” said Mr Haughian.
“It will also support the sustainability of the sports club by bringing in vital income through the hire of the artificial grass pitch.”
The artificial pitch project is also to receive a £150,000 contribution from the Premier League’s Club Development Fund, £15,000 from Penrith AFC and £100,000 from the council.
The work commencing is subject to the grant agreements with the Football Foundation being signed. It is expected the project will be completed in time for winter of this year.
The total, £870,174 cost of the scheme is a lower figure than was initially estimated and follows negotiations between the Football Foundation and preferred contractor.
