Harrogate Town set for ground upgrade approval

Harrogate Town AFC’s plans to redevelop their Wetherby Road ground, adding new facilities and almost doubling capacity, are set to get the go-ahead at a council meeting next week (20 February 2018).The club submitted an application to Harrogate Borough Council in October 2017 for improvements to the ground.Proposals cover the demolition of the existing bar, office, changing rooms and corporate hospitality stand.A new two-storey clubhouse will then be built together with a seated terrace, bar and toilets at the eastern part of the site and a building to the north east which would provide new stand and classrooms to be used as community facilities. The existing ticket sales and office building in the south west corner will be demolished and rebuilt as an office.The existing Wetherby Road terrace and family stand will also be extended, and new floodlights and turnstiles installed. The club’s recently-installed 3G playing pitch will be retained.The development would increase the capacity of the ground from 2,800 spectators to about 5,000.The plans will go before the council’s planning committee on 20 February and are recommended for approval in a planning officer’s report prepared for the meeting, subject to the signing of a Section 106 order.Harrogate Town have used the site for training and matches since 1919 and have expanded its spectator facilities in recent years with the development of the Wetherby Road and Western terraces.The club currently play in the National League North, but they are aiming to gain promotion to the National League and then the Football League.They were supported in the application by Indigo Planning and Bowman Riley Architects.