Bath City Football Club is seeking permission to install a 3G pitch at Twerton Park as part of long-term efforts to make it a more sustainable business.
A planning application will be submitted to Bath & North East Somerset Council for the new pitch, which would help to reduce income which is lost when matches are postponed as well as provide an additional revenue stream.
The football club, which hosts a men’s and women’s team, an Academy, a youth football club and The Bath City FC Foundation charity, has said numerous community programmes would use the pitch.
In addition, the 3G pitch would also be made available for hire by other sports clubs, schools, businesses and individuals.
The transformation of the pitch is part of long-term ambitions to redevelop the whole Twerton Park site alongside Bath-based Rengen Developments.
A proposed development with Greenacre Capital which would have seen the site regenerated was refused in 2020.
If the latest application is successful and funding arrangements are put in place, the club aims to install the new pitch at the end of this season, in time for 2023/24, or if delayed, the following close season.
The refused development in 2020 included a 3G pitch, however the Bath City FC board has decided to push forward with plans for the pitch alone ahead of further exploration for the future of the Twerton Park site.
During a consultation process in 2018, 89% (226) of Supporters Society members backed the adoption of a 3G pitch against 11% (28) who opposed the proposals.