Stevenage FC’s chairman says the club has entered a pivotal part of its history after planning permission was granted to build a new stand at The Lamex Stadium.
Work should begin this summer to demolish the Broadhall Way stadium’s North Stand and replace it with a new £1.2m two-tier structure which will more than double its current capacity to 1,700.
The club’s chairman Phil Wallace said: “This is an important moment for us, a pivotal period in our history. The current view of the club from the A602 sends a message to the thousands that pass it every day. A message that says we may be in the Football League, but our club is still small time and the town’s football club is rooted in the past. Inside it’s even worse – simply awful facilities, open to the elements, that have no place in a modern stadium. I commend the council for having the vision to back our plans and now we can move forwards.”
Councillors at Stevenage Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to approve the application on Tuesday evening after planners recommended that it was granted.
The stand will also include conference, meeting and leisure facilities, including for medical use, and will increase the ground’s capacity to more than 8,000.
The development is part of the club’s effort to change its image and attract more fans and comes shortly after they appointed former England and Manchester United striker Teddy Sherringham as the club’s manager.
Mr Wallace added: “Stevenage FC is evolving both on and off the pitch as we attract more fans to our games. On the pitch we have a new vision under Teddy Sheringham. Off the pitch our community involvement is ever growing and this redevelopment plan is testament to our ambition to have a modern day football stadium, for the benefit of the community.
“This proposal offers the club the chance to create a multi-purpose facility to drive forward much needed non-match day revenues, so that we may survive and prosper in the Football League. We also recognise that we have a vital role to play in putting the town on the map and a new North Stand is an essential requirement for the club and the local community as it will greatly enhance the visual gateway to Stevenage.
“Our intention is to introduce top class, premium conference and banqueting facilities as an integral part of the development and we have additional plans to hopefully introduce other new innovations. The new North Stand will, we hope, inspire people. It will create jobs for local people and appeal to the entire community.”
The current structure is standing only but the new plans will see a 1.546 seats put in alongside executive boxes.
A finish date for the work has not been set but it is hoped the stand will be completed by next summer.
The new structure will continue to be known as the North Stand.
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