Westfield Down Project
Although we have been slowed down badly by the recession, the project is still very much alive.
Land. All the land is owned by Mrs. Dunkley and her family Trust and East Sussex County Council. The key to the project is the disposal of the housing land just north of the Doctors’ surgery, at which point the remainder of the land will be transferred to the Parish Council for the development of football and recreation facilities. Hopefully, the marketing of the housing land is not too far away.
Planning. The planning position is very strong. The permission for the football and recreation area was approved three years ago and was renewed in July 2010. The outline permission for the housing site was agreed last year, but is conditional upon a planning agreement being negotiated between the parties, which will set out the obligation of the developer to supply some affordable housing and to provide a financial contribution towards the cost of the football facilities. Negotiations over the agreement are still ongoing and the land will not be marketed until the deal is finalised.
The Project. The first phase will see the construction of a full size senior pitch, fenced and floodlit, a grass training pitch, the changing rooms and the car park. At a meeting in August 2010 the Football Association confirmed that this phase will attract grant at varying percentages. It is possible that the changing rooms will be built by the developer. Plans to build an all-weather pitch have been abandoned because no FA grant was available. The Club will be responsible for building the clubhouse at some future date: in the meantime, a temporary portacabin will be used.
Youth football will remain at the Parish Field until a new youth pitch is built as part of the second phase, which will also see the general recreation ground facilities provided. The third phase will see the replacement of the cricket pavilion and Scout Hall, built as a joint project.
The Club will need to fund raise to help meet the costs of Phase 1 and significant fund raising will be needed for the remainder of the project, which will take some years to complete.
The Parish Council will retain the freehold of the sport and recreation land, will arrange for the construction of the facilities, once funds are in place, and will lease the completed developments to the appropriate users. Additionally, it is hoped that the future of the cricket ground can be safeguarded for the long term.
Roger Carrier, August 2010.
