The
construction of 99 apartments, located on the eastern part of the site next to
Winterstoke Road, will help secure the long-term future of the club and enable
improvements to the football, hospitality and event facilities on The Optima
Stadium site, benefiting the club, the fans and the community.
The
stadium will be set up to future proof the club`s on-pitch progression, with a
new stand (replacing the current Optima Stand) for 750 seats and extra terraces
at stage one, with the capability of achieving 2,000 seats and a ground
capacity of 5,000, which is the requirement to stay in League Two.
The
new club facilities will include changing rooms, physio room, gym, hospitality
and function rooms, and a new sports bar and restaurant which will be open 7 days
a week.
These
new facilities along with the existing 3G all-weather pitch will make The
Optima Stadium an integral community facility for healthy living, activity and
mental health support.
These
club facilities will be built first, so that the club is able to operate as
normal, with the residential development to follow straight after.
Once
built, the development will create additional jobs in catering, hospitality and
leisure.
Home
fixtures will still be played at The Optima Stadium during all phases of
construction.
The
club has engaged with experienced consultants to progress the project.
Ahead
of submitting a planning application to North Somerset Council by June 2021,
the club will be consulting with key stakeholders, including its loyal
supporters, neighbouring businesses and residents.
If
the planning application is approved, it will secure the long-term future of
the club and provide the club with the platform to become the only full-time
professional football club in North Somerset.
It
will also create a much-needed health and activity community hub, within
walking distance for so many of the local residents.
The
club plan to release more details in the coming weeks, including more visuals
of the proposed development.
Managing
director Oliver Bliss said: “The club is in a stable position, but we have been
working on a develepment for the past five years to try to produce something
that will enable the club to progress, whilst also offering a major support and
facility for the local community.
“We
are really pleased with what we are now proposing and are looking forward to
making this dream a reality.”
Chairman
Paul Bliss said: “From where Weston-super-Mare AFC reformed in 1948, it was
playing at the Great Ground, Locking Road, I was watching them play on this
ground, the goalkeeper at the time used to take me to watch.
“The
Great Ground was purchased for development and the club was forced to leave, as
it was not owned by the club. The club was fortunate enough to have the owners
of the Royal Pottery, who also owned the adjacent land, they re-named the site
Langford Road, where they had a Nissen Hut which was the bar and skittle alley.
“This
site was also then used for development and the club were forced to move again.
This move took them to Woodspring Park in 1983 where they were given a 30-year
lease by the council.
“I
bought the club in 1986 and sometime later negotiated a land swap and extension
to our lease to a 99-year lease.
“This
lease was key for the final move to Woodspring Stadium in 2004, this move
allowed the club to split the proceeds of sale of the land to Barratts on a
50/50 basis with the council.
“This
was the first move that meant the club owned its own site, this is now key to
the final development that we are now proposing.
“This
development will mean that the funds from the sale of the residential
development can be reinvested into the club facilities and achieve our
aspirations of playing at the highest level possible”. |