Portsmouth City Council has submitted updated plans for approval as they continue to work in partnership with the Football Foundation, Hampshire FA, and contractors to develop a football hub at King George V playing fields at Cosham.
Planning permission for the football hub was approved on 1 March 2022, to provide a new pavilion building with changing facilities, café space and toilets, as well as artificial grass pitches marked up to provide a variety of pitch options, to support the development of youth and adult football in the city.
The plans ensure that there will still be plenty of grass football pitches available on the rest of the playing fields.
To ensure that the scheme remains affordable, the council is submitting amended plans for approval, which would see the pavilion building footprint slightly reduced, with a change to the external appearance of the new building.
Additionally, the council aims to provide supporting information to discharge conditions to the original planning consent, which if approved, may mean that work could start on site early in 2023.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Economic Development, said: “We’re pleased to be progressing with our plans to provide a football hub in the north of the city so more children and adults can participate in the sport whatever the weather, as Portsmouth currently has a shortfall of artificial grass pitches.
“To ensure the success and affordability of this project, we’re working in partnership to ensure that any design changes don’t adversely affect the outcome of the football hub for its users and could mean that work starts early in 2023.”
The amended plans are available on the planning portal at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/planning for anyone to view or comment on to share their views.