New football stadium plans given the go ahead

Saturday 06 April 2019

Planning has given Guernsey's Football Association and Football Club the green light for a new joint stadium at Victoria Avenue.

The GFA has been working with Guernsey FC for the past five years to develop plans for the headquarters. After more than a year with the Planning Service, the proposals have finally been approved.

The newly-created facility will be used for GFC's home games, GFA representative matches and a 3G training facility will be available for community use. The association hopes the grounds will enable it to enhance coaching, training and grassroots programmes for island footballers.

The project will be part funded by the English Football Association in the form of grants and work is due to begin next year.

"Our target is to try and get the stadium completed for the 2021 Island Games in Guernsey, so that gives us a real focus," said Guernsey FC Director Nic Legg. "We know that we need to move on with contractors and getting everything in place so we can get that building ready and have a facility that Guernsey can be truly proud of."

GFA Chief Executive Gary Roberts added: "This project represents a significant commitment by the GFA in relation to supporting the ongoing development of football in the island. It also represents the culmination of a vast amount of time that has been required to attend meetings with the Football Association, States departments, architects, project managers, GFC and numerous other parties required to facilitate such a project, not least in the last twelve months since the planning application was first submitted. That period has presented challenges in meeting the expectations of the various agencies and organisations that were consulted about the project, and it is pleasing that we have now received the approval of the Planning Service, which indicates that we have been able to develop a project that meets all of the relevant criteria.

"I would like to place on record the GFA's appreciation and gratitude to all those that have supported the project and assisted in reaching this stage, particularly Andrew Merrett from Lovell Ozanne for all his guidance through the planning process.

"The project has been developed in such a way as to be sustainable in the long term and we are now looking forward to working with all relevant partners to successfully deliver a project that we are confident will secure the long term future of the island's largest participant and spectator sport."

Pictured top: Image from Guernsey FC's Facebook page.