Images: Welling United
National League South football club Welling United has teamed up with property developer Lita Homes to unveil ambitious plans to transform its Park View Road stadium.
The London-based club, which competes in the sixth tier of the English game, has partnered with Lita to bring forward proposals for 114 residential homes and a new stadium with associated facilities at the Park View Road site. This is part of wider regeneration plans at the grounds with a view to securing the club’s long-term future.
The 120,000 sqm site is occupied by Park View Road stadium, which having been originally been built in the 1920s is deemed to be in need of restoration. United said: “At present, the site and football grounds are not fit for purpose. The grounds are in very poor condition and there are next to no adequate club facilities. Part of the site is derelict, and the site boundaries need work to maintain security.
“The current facilities are poorly built and suffer from structural damage. The buildings are not weatherproof and suffer leakages. Many areas essential to the functioning of the club, such as changing rooms and toilets, are simply at their end of life and require a complete overhaul.”
United and Lita Homes aim to deliver the following improvements to Park View Road:
• A new club venue for Welling United fit for the current league and future expansion
• New management areas including meeting rooms, administration and offices, and hospitality suites
• A brand-new Football Association (FA) regulation size pitch with over 4,000 crowd capacity, sheltered spectator zones, and viewing areas
• State-of-the-art team facilities and changing rooms for 500-plus resident players, football academy, and visiting teams
• Provide a football hub for the community for all ages and abilities
The new facilities for United will be funded by commercial and residential development on the Park View Road edge of the site, forming part of Welling High Street. This consists of 114 new homes; a new commercial space fronting onto Park View Road; a new café/bar; new hospitality space and classroom spaces for community use.
The proposals for United have been developed to promote high levels of sustainability through a low carbon design, incorporating passive and renewable design features and minimising the site’s carbon footprint during construction and operation.
A key element of this includes the retention of the Erith & Belvedere stand and hall. United said these buildings are in “relatively good repair” and the intention would be to repaint the stand steelwork and replace the seating to match a new stand on the opposite side.
Intensive and extensive greening of roofs and walls is also proposed where practical, which will be completed by the installation of PV panels, thereby providing a source of renewable energy, and enhancing biodiversity.
The project has been put out for public consultation this month, with a view to a planning application being submitted in September. If a positive verdict is reached on this, work is targeted to begin on site in May with a view to completion in May 2026.
During the ongoing work on the site, United will temporarily play their games at an alternative venue until completion.
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