Margate FC submits new application for 120-bed hotel and stadium redevelopment

New plans submitted for Margate FC development Image GPM/Margate FC

By Charlotte Richardson

Margate Football Club has submitted a new planning application for stadium redevelopment at its site, including the East Stand, Coffin End (North Stand), a 120 bed hotel and further facilities.

The application has been developed with hotel partner IHG Hotels and the brand Holiday Inn Express to reflect increased demand for hotel rooms in Thanet. It ios also aimed at providing a first-class facility for all teams and a sporting hub for the community.

The East Block will be used for a 120-bedroom hotel together with restaurant and bar facilities. The building will also include space for MFC club offices and a club shop together with the stadium control room. The stand will be all-seater and have a capacity of 650.

Image GPM/Margate FC

The North Stand will be a terrace with a capacity of 1,300 and behind this and integrated into it, there will also be space for first team home and away changing facilities, together with ancillary spaces associated with the first team. On the ground floor, there will be several studio spaces for sports and associated activities. On the first floor there will be a café/bar facility which overlooks the pitch.

The car park will be extended to provide 104 parking spaces and will provide access to all of the East Block offices, shop and hotel. The North End turnstiles will be renewed and relocated into the site to allow access into the ground from the car park.

The application has been developed following pre-application meetings with Thanet District Council and Kent County Council.

Image GPM/Margate FC

Club Chairman, Terry Painter (pictured below) said:“This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our plans to secure a long term, sustainable and exciting future for Margate Football Club. Lots of hard-work has taken place to get us to this stage and I’m sure supporters and members of the local community will see these plans and be equally as excited as us.”

Photo by Oakley Photosport.

“We hope our supporters can play their part in this by sending a letter of support or an email to the planning department at Thanet District Council indicating both their support and the need for this facility to allow Hartsdown Park to develop and grow. We will ensure we keep our supporters, partners and the local community fully up to date as we head to planning committee.”

“The past few months have been extremely troubling and sad for many of us but hopefully this news will give everybody a bit of a boost.”

Image GPM/Margate FC

Manager Jay Saunders added his full support for the plans by saying: “When I first spoke to the club about coming in as manager, I was shown these plans and really impressed with the vision.”

“Having played for – and now managed – the club, I know how long this has been going on and I hope we can get across the line and the permission everyone at the club is hoping for.

“I’m sure in these difficult times, it would give everyone at the club and our loyal supporters a massive lift and something to look forward to.”

The club were hoping to have a presentation of the proposals for supporters and the community prior to application, but due to the current ongoing Covid19 situation, this has not been possible. It is hoped an event can take place in the near future.

The application has not yet been published on Thanet council’s planning portal

Plans for a development at the Hartsdown site were originally submitted and granted in 2012.

The initial scheme was for a football stadium, an 80 bed hotel, fitness club, children’s club, children’s play area, theme bar, conference and banqueting suites, hospitality boxes, admin offices, boardroom, 10 five a sides and one full size all weather pitch and associated parking and landscaping.

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12 Comments

  1. I hope KCC and TDC do not approve a plan for a 120 room hotel but with only 104 parking spaces!!! There are no bus routes in that area so what about staff working at the hotel who will/need to park? The application also mentions there will be offices for MFC – what about parking for those people too? Far too often construction is approved without sufficient parking spaces. There should be nationwide legislation now which ensures sufficient parking is provided for whatever property is being built – be it homes, offices, hotels etc. Our roads in this country are simply not wide enough for on-street parking whilst at the same time allowing two cars to pass each other, especially with so many SUVs and other larger cars on the roads these days.

    • Bore off will you !!! More jobs for the local area Joe about getting behind something u miserable Cow !!!

    • “Only 104 parking spaces”? That’s a lot of hard-standing. Better to provide a shuttle bus service to and from the station, rather than encouraging people to keep on driving around in private cars.

  2. I hope the plans are environmentally friendly with permeable surfaces to car park and hard standing. More trees surround the site which helps keep noise down as well as improves the view of said buildings.

    • No. Look at the plans all the devolpment is with in the ground footprints also just so you know the club owns the current car park ????

    • The trees that surround the club were put there by th club itself, im sure as a pro community club that supports local schools, mental health organisations etc that they will be enhancing the look of the area, as for noise i suspect it is less now than it was thirty years ago when attedances were 3-4 thousand per game. Offering good health and fitnesss to the young can only be à good thing.

  3. What a nightmare…throughout this current crisis this beautiful playing field has been my go to place where I go to take my shoes off and walk on grass…and instead of seeing there are enough Hotels… look at Dreamland and the Turner Closed and not planning to open! Do we need another building site? Or more people? Don’t we have enough people already. The local children and teenagers dont need a hotel. They need this green grass to gaze at a blue sky.

    • And to play sport. Suggest when you take your shoes off you take care not to tread on a needle or walk in dog poo.

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