Fifty homes plan for Rawtenstall's former Rossendale United football ground (From This Is Lancashire)

Fifty homes plan for Rawtenstall's former Rossendale United football ground

12:00pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News

PLANS to build 50 new homes on Rossendale United’s old football ground have been submitted to the council.

Bury-based developers Maze Planning Solutions have drafted the blueprints for the Dark Lane site in Newchurch.

Former club owner Andrew Connolly still owns the land, which was last used by the Stags in the 2010/11 season.

The club’s main stand was destroyed in a fire in January this year before the idea of using the land for housing was mooted in February.

Following public consultation at Rawtenstall Library in March, the plans have been drawn up to include 17 two-bedroom, 27 three-bedroom and six four -bedroom houses.

The proposals include plans to bring the road and footpaths on Dark Lane up to adoptable standard and make access to the nearby Newchurch St Nicholas CoE Primary School safer.

In the planning statement, Maze accepted that ‘a body of the local community opposes development of the site because of its long association with the former football club’.

It adds: “Overall, the loss of the site to the community is not significant.”

Former Rossendale United secretary Wendy Ennis, who was involved at various levels in the club for 16 years, said it would be a sad day if the plans went ahead.

She said: “It would be dreadful if it went completely. It has been there for years. But there are houses on two sides of it and a school on the other, so I think there would be a lot of opposition.

“I don’t think it will be a smooth ride for him.”

Rossendale United was formed in 1898 but was expelled from the North West Counties League Premier Division on June 18 last year.