Sevenoaks Town Football Club have been hard at work throughout the summer putting together plans to improve it’s current facilities for the club and local community by providing a development that meets the needs of all who benefit from Greatness Park .
Award winning architects, Offset Architects, have previously assisted the club with their 3G pitch and lighting application, which has been a fantastic success. They have been appointed once again to assist with the new upgrading of the community changing rooms, covered stands and clubhouse facilities.
The new proposal
The proposal will provide six changing rooms with showers, toilets and storage facilities, along with referee and first aid rooms, all meeting football foundation and football association requirements.
In addition to this, the proposal will also provide inclusion for a gym, a meeting room and flexible function room that can be used by the club and community groups. The building will also function as additional covered standing and seating areas, bringing the club in line with current regulations.
Design & Massing
In collaboration with the various stakeholders of the site, Offset Architects have been working on a suitable design that would meet the necessary regulations and requirements, whilst also making sure the design and massing are in keeping with its unique open landscape setting.
The initial designs have been reduced in scale to provide the minimum necessary to meet the required size and allow for the town council to retain the existing pavilion for ongoing community use.
Creating a part 1 storey and part 2 storey form mimics the sculptural contours of the site, and by creating flat grass roofs, it enables the building to merge into the surrounding green context.
Highways, access and parking
The site is well connected to the local area with footpaths and bus routes. It is only a short walk from Bat & Ball railway station.
The site currently benefits from a small open tarmac car park and a larger gated parking area of a gravel hardstanding accessed off Mill Lane. There are also cycle stands adjacent to the pavilion.
The proposals will include for the resurfacing and delineation of the existing parking area, to create a more efficient use of space, with a small grasscrete extension adjacent to the existing pavilion and another gated one to the north for temporary additional parking for emergency and club vehicles during home match days, thereby increasing the capacity from 42 to 74 spaces.
Landscaping and biodiversity
As part of the car park resurfacing, the football club are also proposing additional mixed planting areas and footpaths to provide connections between the car park, play area, pavilion and football pitches. This includes a small tree lined pedestrian route towards the stadium. These improvements, along with the grass-roofs and wall to the clubhouse, will provide additional habitats and increase the overall biodiversity of the site.
What happens next?
Everyone involved with Sevenoaks Town are looking to improve the current facilities for the club and local community.
The next steps as to how you can hear more about these plans and help with the funding scheme for this important community facility can be found on their website.
Sevenoaks Town Football Club are committed to engaging with the local community as part of the design and consultation process. However, due to Covid-19, they are unable to have an on-site public exhibition at present and therefore the consultation will be held online.
To view and comment on the plans, simply go to www.sevenoakstownfc.co.uk/proposed-new-clubhouse where an online feedback form is available to fill in.
