£18m sports and science park set for Fylde

Ambitious plans to create an £18m sports and science park that could create 200 new jobs for the Fylde have been officially unveiled.

The plan for the Mill Farm site also includes a new stadium for ambitious non-league football club AFC Fylde.

The masterplan for the proposed development has been drawn up by leading north west architecture and design practice, the Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP).

More than 60 sports clubs throughout the country have benefitted from FWP’s advice, with many of them going on to design and build modern new facilities.

The Mill Farm site has been allocated for employment and leisure uses in the emerging Fylde Local Plan.

There will also be a number of state-of-the-art all weather pitches for community use, including full-size floodlit football pitch with a 3G surface.

The new AFC Fylde stadium would have a 6,000 capacity and include a modern 2,000 all-seater main stand with supporters’ bar, executive boxes and a function room.

“We anticipate we can create up to 200 new jobs over the next three years, many of them for local people.

“This is a well thought out development plan that will create superb facilities and help fuel the economic growth of the area. “If all goes to plan the first phase of the facility could open in September next year.”

“We have made real efforts to ensure we have the parking and the infrastructure needed to grow as a successful community club.”

“We have worked on a number of successful sports projects around the country developing health, educational and community assets into sports stadia.

The Fylde sports and science park masterplan will be guided through the public consultation and planning process by Paul Walton, director of PWA Planning in Preston.

“The site is allocated for employment and leisure uses in the emerging Fylde Local Plan and this proposal directly addresses the council’s and national Government’s aspirations surrounding sustainable development.

“The development will help to sustain the local economy and provide much needed sporting facilities and jobs for this part of the Fylde coast.