More than 100 flats could be built on part of Welling United’s ground as part of plans for a new stadium for the non-league football club.
The club admits that its Park View Road ground, which has hosted football for a century, is “not fit for purpose”, with one of its terraces closed and its 1950s main stand in a poor state of repair.
The Wings have teamed up with a property developer, Lita Homes, which wants to build 114 homes at the Park View Road end of the ground along with commercial space, shifting the pitch further south and leaving the ground with three sides. Plans were revealed to fans and locals at an event at the stadium yesterday.
Fans have been promised “a football hub for the community for all ages and abilities”, comprising 4,000-capacity stadium, state-of-the art facilities for players and its academy, a new bar and cafe, hospitality areas and classrooms for community use.
“The grounds are in very poor condition and there are next to no adequate club facilities,” the club and Lita Homes said in a statement this morning. “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.”
Welling play in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. The club was founded 60 years ago as a youth team and moved to Park View Road in 1977.
But despite punching above their weight on the pitch for many years, they remain overshadowed by larger neighbours Charlton and Millwall, and have struggled to pull in the crowds seen at their local rivals, Dartford, who moved to a new ground in 2006. Club bosses hope that the new ground will rejuvenate the club and secure its future.
Welling United and Lita plan to submit a planning application to Bexley Council this September and hope to build the new ground between 2024 and 2026, with the Wings playing elsewhere while the new ground is built.
It is not clear how many, if any at all, of the 114 homes will be available for people on Bexley’s housing waiting list, or will be made available for shared ownership.
Representatives of Lita Homes have been asked for clarification, and have also been asked how the plans affect Erith & Belvedere, the eighth-tier club that shares Park View Road with Welling.
More details on the proposals can be found at wellingparkviewroad.co.uk.
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