Portland United FC given go ahead for revamp
An extension to the clubhouse and a 3G all-weather pitch are planned
Portland United football club’s expansion plans have been cleared for kick off.
The proposals, agreed by Dorset Council, include an extension to the clubhouse and a 3G all-weather pitch.
The changes to the club’s Grove Road ground will allow more club and community use throughout a longer season.
The planning consent allows for the pitch upgrade and an extension to the club building to provide a hospitality area and to extend its function room on the first floor with additional space and a balcony.
In a planning statement the club says that many of the nearby pubs and clubs have closed over the years, including the Clifton pub, the South Portland Working Men’s Club in Easton Square:
“Portland United Football Club is primarily used for football but has the capacity to host wedding receptions etc and the proposal allows for a larger area to subsides the club with its running long term.
“In addition, local dart teams now use the venue along with being the hosts to Portland Super League Darts Team, all helping with additional finances for the football club.”
The club says the proposed extension will allow the function room at first floor to be extended with a view on match days over the pitch and a balcony.
It says an additional function room is to be created to the side of the property, accessed from the main function room, to be used as an additional multipurpose space and provides a children’s room with the ground floor to be used as a hospitality area during match days.
The new 3G pitch will allow more use for the first team, reserves and youth teams for training and match days with ladies/girls teams being formed who will also take advantage of the facilities.
“The pitch surface will also allow more community use for charity functions/competitions,” said the statement.
Portland town council has backed the changes but has asked the club to look at the provision for disabled access to the first floor and to consider disabled toilets – a view shared by Sport England in its comments on the proposals.
Sport England has also asked for a formal community use agreement.
Both of the points are expected to become conditions of the final detailed planning permission which will need to be signed off by council officers, once agreed.