Welling United home wider regeneration plans

Article posted by Coliseum, July 18^th, 2023

Image: Welling United

The Welling United Football Club is working with Lita Homes (real estate developer in London) to bring forward proposals for 114 residential homes and a new stadium with associated facilities at the Park View Road site in Welling, England (UK) as part of wider regeneration plans at the grounds, securing the club for the future.

The Welling United Football Club is a semi-professional football club, based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley, England (UK). The club’s first team play in the National League South, at the sixth tier of English football.

The 5,000-capacity Park View Road is home to the National League South semi-professional football club Welling United, and was the ground of their predecessors Bexley United. Welling has played there since 1977.

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The Bexley United Football Club was a football club based in Welling (UK). A club of the same name played in the Kent League before the war, before merging with Bexley. It was resurrected as Bexleyheath and Welling in about 1952 following a local campaign, and joined the Kent League.

Established in 2005 by Xhevat LITA, London (UK)-based the Lita Homes’s primary focus whether enhancing value through development or building new architectural masterpieces is to build and create exceptional homes. The real estate company achieve this through leveraging its example in all aspects of the property business: From site acquisition through to the final steps of interior design.

The Existing Site

‘Welling United’ stated that the Welling United Football Club site comprises 120,000 sqm and is located to the South-East of the Welling town center and the Welling train station. The football ground is situated directly South of the Park View Road and to the East of Roseacre Road.

The site is occupied by the Park View Road Stadium. The stadium is a key sports facility and asset to the area but is in need of restoration. To the East of the site is the Bexleyheath Cricket Club and to the South of the site is the green expanse of the Danson Park (park in England).

‘Welling United’ further stated that at present, the site and football grounds are not fit-for-purpose. The grounds are in very poor condition and there are next to no adequate club facilities. Part of the site is derelict, and the site boundaries need work to maintain security.

The current facilities are poorly built and suffer from structural damage. The buildings are not weatherproof and suffer leakages. Many areas essential to the functioning of the club, such as changing rooms and toilets, are simply at their end of life and require a complete overhaul.

A New Home for ‘The Wings’

Welling United aspires to provide a more welcoming environment for their players, fans and the wider community. It has ambitions to cater for double the number of players and would like to extend work on various community programs and offer more support to the neighborhood with safer and better facilities.
However, the Welling United does not have the resources to deliver this on their own.

To this end, the Welling United has partnered with Lita Homes to deliver the following improvements to the Park View Road:

A new club venue for Welling United fit for the current league and future expansion;
New management areas including meeting rooms, administration and offices and hospitality suites;
A brand-new the Football Association (FA) regulation size pitch with over 4,000 crowd capacity, sheltered spectator zones and viewing areas;
State-of-the-art team facilities and changing rooms for 500+ resident players, football academy and the visiting teams; and
Provide a football hub for the community for all ages and abilities.

Together, these improvements will secure a future for the club, providing it room to grow and ensuring it can provide a safe and welcoming standard to its members, visitors and the wider community. In particular, it will ensure it can extend work on its various community programs, delivering on its purpose of football for all.

The new facilities for Welling United will be funded by commercial and residential development on the Park View Road edge of the site, forming part of Welling High Street.

This consists of:

One hundred and fourteen (114) new, high-quality homes;
New commercial space fronting onto the Park View Road;
A new café/bar;
New hospitality space;
New classroom spaces for community use; and
Public realm improvements to the Park View Road and Roseacre Road.

The provision of 114 new, high-quality homes will place the football club within the heart of the community, with a variety of homes from starter homes to larger family-sized duplexes proposed.

In addition, the new commercial space fronting the Park View Road will add vitality to the Eastern end of the high street, helping to secure improvements to this area of Welling.

Moreover, the café/bar and community spaces will provide key facilities and support for the local community to enjoy.

The project will be committed to using locally-sourced companies to complete the development, with club sponsors being preferred suppliers during the building process.

Design

The design of the residential development has been modeled to reflect the scale of a London mansion block which uses ornate detailing to soften the appearance of the building.

The materials proposed are principally one of brick for the primary elevations, with a complementary palette of bricks which range from red to brown. A characterful metal clad roof form is proposed, and this is articulated with metal dormers to acknowledge the building’s residential purpose.

In addition, as part of improvements to the public realm, paving flags and permeable paving have been proposed within the grounds.

Transport and Sustainability

The proposals for Welling United have been developed to promote high levels of sustainability through a low carbon design, incorporating passive and renewable design features and minimizing the site’s carbon footprint during construction and operation.

A key element of this includes the retention of the Erith & Belvedere stand and hall. These buildings are in relatively good repair and the intention would be to repaint the stand steelwork and replace the seating to match the new stand on the opposite side.

Intensive and extensive greening of roofs and walls is also proposed where practical, which will be completed by the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels, thereby providing a source of renewable energy and enhancing biodiversity.

Promoting the adoption of sustainable transport modes is a key part of the proposals for Welling United F.C. and a car-free development is proposed. As such, adequate cycle parking will be provided to serve both the residential and football ground elements of the proposals.

Moreover, a free car-club membership for all residents to encourage a reduction in private car ownership and a mode shift away from car travel will be explored.

Timeline

July 2023 – Public consultation;
August 2023 – Reviewing feedback and evolving proposals;
September 2023 – Submission of planning application;
December 2023 – Targeting planning decision;
May 2024 – Targeting work to start on site; and
May 2026 – Targeting works completed.

During the ongoing work on the site, the club will temporarily play their games at an alternative venue until completion.

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