A LOCAL football club has been granted planning permission for a major upgrade of its grounds.

Last year Silsden AFC revealed plans for the site that included replacing a number of dilapidated buildings at its Keighley Road grounds.

They included the replacement of its spectator stand with a new 100 seat stand, a new hospitality building, a replacement ticket office and the building of a canopy over a standing platform.

The club has now been granted planning permission for the works to go ahead.

Restaurant plan for former betting shop in Silsden

And making it a double header of good news - the club was recently told that it would receive a £100,000 grant from the Football Association to help pay for these upgrades.

The club says the works will leave a legacy to Silsden “for generations to come”.

It is hoped – coronavirus permitting – that at least some of the new facilities could be built and ready for the start of next season.

The clubs grounds are in Green Belt, which would normally prevent new building, but planning officers said it was an important part of the community.

Approving the plans officers said: “The contribution of the club to the growing community of Silsden needs to be recognised and that the proposal presents a worthwhile opportunity for the enhancement of the sporting facilities at the site.

“The facilities are modest, proportionate and functionally linked to the outdoor sports use. In addition, the facilities preserve the openness of the Green Belt and do not conflict with the purposes of including land within it.”

Club president Barry Thomas, who co-ordinated the bid for funds, said the awarding of the grant was “brilliant news”.

“It has been obvious for some years that several structures at the ground have been getting near to the end of their useful life – and they have further deteriorated significantly in recent months due to sustained inclement weather,” he said.

Among the buildings to be replaced is the John McNulty Stand, a wooden structure built in 1936 with old railway sleepers as a foundation. It is rotting and has woodworm.

The plan is to construct in its place a steel-fabricated stand, which would be built onsite.

An existing hospitality unit, housed in a dilapidated portable cabin, will also be replaced. The new purpose-built unit will be constructed in stone matching the clubhouse, and will include disabled facilities.

Stone will be used too to build the replacement ticket office, currently also an old portable cabin.

And a new, covered standing terrace – accommodating 50 spectators – will be provided between existing clubhouse porches.

Mr Thomas said all the construction, electrical and joinery work would be carried out by locally-based companies – Cobbydale Construction, Danny Clarke Building and Groundworks and Shane Parker Building Solutions.

“These are exciting times which continue the dreams and expectations of our club founder Dr John Purcell – who in 1904 envisaged health and outdoor activities every hour of the day for the people of Silsden,” added Mr Thomas.