Stadium Plans For Gillingham Would Make New Ground One Of The Biggest In League One

A proposed new stadium for English football League One side Gillingham would be more than double the size of its current home at Priestfield, making it one of the biggest grounds in the entire division, according to new details released this week.

With a current capacity of 11,582, Priestfield – originally opened in 1893 – could not support the club if it were to reach a higher level in the football pyramid. The proposed new stadium, for which the club has earmarked 40 acres of land at nearby Mill Hill, around a mile away from the current ground, would be able to seat up to 24,000 spectators on match day.

The plot of land, which sits opposite the University of Kent’s Centre for Sports Studies, the club’s training facilities and directly next to the Medway Dragons Rugby Club, would also become part of a mixed-use development including a supermarket, hotel, health club, tennis academy and 300 homes.

Gillingham’s plans came up against opposition when they were first revealed in 2012, with one person refusing to sell a plot of land and then later a development plan at nearby Chatham Docks – also including a supermarket in the mixed-use development – being given the go ahead.

Despite these issues, the club has pressed forward with its plans, submitting blueprints to Medway Council in the last week and applying for permission to carry out an environmental impact assessment of the preferred site.

Aside from hosting football matches, the stadium will also be suitable for both rugby and concerts. At this, stage no costs have been revealed for the project and no architects have been named.

Source: leisureopportunities.co.uk