Football club could be forced to demolish £1m new facilities
A football club could be forced to demolish a host of new facilities costing £1m at its Walsall home after failing to get the necessary planning permission.
Planning officers are seeking permission to take enforcement action against Sporting Khalsa FC which could result in the removal of a number of developments including its main 3G pitch, changing rooms and a hospitality suite at the Aspray 24 Arena in Noose Lane, Willenhall.
Concerns centre around the safety of some of the works due to dangerous ground conditions that needed to be rectified.
The authority said the club’s main 3G artificial pitch didn’t have necessary permission having failed to demonstrate measures had been taken to deal with a mineshaft based underneath.
Permission had been granted in 2015 for the pitch but that was based on conditions relating to mining and gas remedial works being carried out and had now expired.
A report to planning committee also said changing rooms had been built in a different location of the facility to the one given approval previously.
Other issues identified include the building of the east grandstand, a hospitality suite, an artificial grass pitch, a storage facility, installation of a static caravan and fencing.
The report added that officers had attempted to work with the Midland Football Premier League club, encouraging them to submit retrospective planning applications but failed to do so and continued to redevelop the site anyway.
They are now recommending the council takes strong action to tackle the “harmful” development.
On its website, the club said it unveiled plans for a “£1m transformation of the playing facilities with a new 3G pitch, grandstand and changing facilities.”
It added £579,564 grant funding was secured from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund as well as £75,000 from Sport England towards the project.
