Stadium proposal
Plans submitted for new stadium
A new community stadium in East Kilbride is a step closer this week after detailed plans were submitted to South Lanarkshire Council.
The East Kilbride Community Trust have lodged a blueprint for a phased 4000-seater development in the town’s Langlands area.
A new community stadium in East Kilbride is a step closer this week after detailed plans were submitted to South Lanarkshire Council.
East Kilbride Community Trust (EKCT) have lodged a blueprint for a phased 4000-seater development in Langlands which would see “The East Kilbride Community Stadium” operational by late 2018 and completed in its entirety by 2020.
The first stage of the development would see a synthetic 4G football pitch laid in the first quarter of 2018 and phase two, the erection of a main stand with 2430 seats and perimeter fencing, is earmarked for completion late in 2018.
Following that, EKCT propose to build a South-West Stand with 780 seats by late 2019 and a North-East stand, also comprising approximately 780 seats, by the end of 2020 to bring the total seated capacity to 3990.
The stadium will play host to East Kilbride Football Club matches and other teams from the town.
As well as catering for football, the stadium will house a gym, a boxing ring, sports hall, a function suite and office space.
EKCT chief executive Monique McAdams, recently elected as a councillor to serve East Kilbride West, said: “Everyone at the trust is very excited about being able to finally submit this detailed planning application to South Lanarkshire Council after careful planning and design, which takes into account the different needs and abilities of the people that will be using it. It’s a wonderful project that, once built, will be enjoyed by everyone in East Kilbride.
“This project is so much more than just a place to watch or play football; it will house a boxing gym and an indoor multipurpose hall amongst other much-needed community facilities.
“This is a community-driven development which is very much wanted and needed as East Kilbride and its surrounding areas continue to grow. We look forward to this project coming to fruition as soon as possible for the benefit of the East Kilbride community.”
In May last year, the News ran a successful campaign urging the council to back outline planning proposals for the development after the local authority had previously clashed with EKCT over the plans.
EKCT were granted planning permission in principle with a number of conditions attached.
In the trust’s detailed plans, they state the approach to the site is from the north along Langlands Drive for pedestrian and vehicular access.
Beyond the junction with Hurlawcrook Road, the road will be widened to cater for a new access road into the north corner of site.
Plans show pedestrian access to the site will be via a paved concourse. Car and coach parking will be provided around the perimeter of the stadium and there will also be cycle bays.
A spokesman for EKCT said: “Up until now we have not heard any councillors voicing support for this community development.
“We have found some council officials difficult to deal with. The charity looks forward to a more positive approach with a new administration in place.
“The councillors should be acting in the best interests of the East Kilbride people who so very recently voted them in.”
Pauline Elliott, head of planning and economic development at the council, said: “This is a live planning application and the planning process must be dealt with in the correct manner.
“Officers handle all applications in the appropriate manner and in this case have been keen to engage with the developer on planning and building standards issues to enable the planning decision to be made quickly and efficiently.”