Brookburn Road | Development Plans

As discussed in the first edition of The Bugle, we're currently formalising plans to develop our home stadium.

We're excited to outline those plans for you now. 

What do we want to achieve?

Our aims with these ground developments are simple.

We want to provide better, more sustainable and more accessible facilities for all who visit Brookburn Road, and we want to do so whilst preserving the character of the club and its surroundings. 

Why do we need to do this?

As our Men's First Team strives for promotion to Step 4 of the National League System, we need to make various improvements to our stadium to ensure compliance with the FA's ground grading requirements for that level.

However, whilst we would have until the April of the year following promotion to complete work in accordance with those regulations, our intention is to proceed as soon we are able to. 

This is because, regardless of when we win promotion, we still need better quality facilities now to support players, volunteers, officials and our ever-growing fanbase. We've received plenty of recent feedback about Brookburn Road's accessibility and its existing toilet provisions. These proposals aim to provide a permanent solution to those issues.

A particular focus of the work relates to extending our clubhouse. The building has served us well for almost three decades, but the West of 2026 is very different to the West that the clubhouse was initially built to serve in the late 1990s. The club now hosts community events, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, meetings and social activities all through the week. This is in addition to welcoming crowds of over 1,000 people at our matches on Saturdays. We need to have a clubhouse that can suitably accommodate all this.

Progress to date

We are currently in consultations about these developments with our immediate neighbours, and their initial response has been overwhelmingly positive. Some of the feedback received from a recent consultation session can be read HERE. 

Those consultations have focused mainly on the opportunities these developments will bring to the local community, and the impact therewith.

We now look forward to consulting with West supporters as a means of ensuring that this work translates to a better matchday experience for all. 

Our Plans

We intend to carry out these developments in three phases.

Please note that any images contained in this article are used for illustrative purposes only.

Phase 1

The first phase will result in layout changes to Brookburn Road which will improve the experience of those attending our home matches, whilst also moving us closer to compliance with the FA's National League System Step 4 ground grading requirements.

It will include the installation of:

• two new toilet blocks and a new septic tank
• a new standing terrace, approximately the same size as the current Shed End stand, to be positioned at the same end of the ground
• an additional 100-seater stand to also be installed at that end of the stadium
• turnstiles at both the main entrance and the Hardy Farm entrance to the stadium
• a larger club shop

The precise location of the two new stands is yet to be determined, however the Shed will remain where it is. 

It's intended that the shipping container currently adjacent to the Shed End bar will be relocated elsewhere on site and the fences at that end of the ground will be re-positioned to create additional space behind the Shed. We're currently exploring options for that shipping container to be converted into another on-site bar/concession kiosk.

This will ultimately allow for the whole area behind the goal, stretching from the perimeter of the pitch to the existing bonfire site, to be reconfigured and developed into a fanzone. This is not a straightforward process though, as this area of the ground is subject to tree and root protection orders which place restrictions on the work we can do. 

The exact layout changes at that end of the ground do not need to be confirmed as part of our immediate planning applications, and we'll work with supporters over the coming months to devise a new layout for this end of the ground that will protect and improve our matchday experience.

The new toilet blocks are to be placed just behind the ticket booths. This will allow for easy maintenance access due to their proximity to the new septic tank. It is intended that combined baby changing and accessible space will be included here, although the specific arrangements for these toilets will also be subject to further supporter consultation later on this year.

Phase 2

The second phase of developments will involve:

• changing the layout of the grass banking on the Hardy Farm side of the ground
• landscaping works around the site to improve drainage
• creation of a children's play area / mini-pitch, to be used on matchdays and by the clubs that hire the space during the week

In the event that our Men's First Team win promotion to Step 4, the relevant ground grading requirements explicitly state that grass banking cannot be used for supporters to stand on and watch matches. 

The plan is to create a three-tier area on the existing grass bank. The current hard-standing will be extended backwards from the pitch to the base of the bank, a second level will be dug into the bank and a third level will line the top of the bank. 

The corner of the ground by the Hardy Farm entrance, next to the Tea Bar, will see the construction of a children's play area and mini-pitch.

This phase will also involve work to enhance the appearance and biodiversity of the site by planting additional trees and shrubs as well as utilising vegetation to improve the appearance of any new groundwork.

Phase 3

The primary focus of the third phase is the extension of our clubhouse. 

Below is a proposed floor plan of the extended clubhouse - with the second picture showing a second storey that will be built as part of this extension. The clubhouse will have provisions for solar panels on its roof.

The extended clubhouse will include:

• increased function, event and co-working space
• a new catering kitchen and improved food and drinks facilities
• additional outdoor covered seating
• better access for disabled attendees, including to the proposed upper floor
• new rooms for players, physios and referees
• new club offices

As part of the clubhouse extension, the existing Rob Turley Stand will be moved elsewhere on site. 

There will also be improvements made to our on-site car park. The size and capacity of the car park will not increase and our recommendation to supporters will continue to be to use public transport, walk or cycle to matches if possible, but the existing parking will become more functional with marked out spaces to make it easier for people to park on-site when attending the club on non-matchdays. We'll plant trees to separate cars and line the area with as much greenery as possible. 

Timescales

The exact timescales of these ground developments will be dictated in part by the length of time that it takes to obtain the necessary planning permission. 

We have been working closely with planning consultants over the last two years, and we intend to apply for planning permission for all three phases of the proposed ground developments in the autumn of 2026. The cost of preparing these applications has been significant, but it will mean that we do not need to undertake this exercise again.

Following the submission of our planning application, focus will then shift onto generating the funding required to turn our plans into reality. If this is something you can support or have expertise in, we'd love to hear from you.

It is anticipated that the start of the work for Phase 1 will be carried out ahead of the 2027/28 season.

The timescales for Phases 2 and 3 will be determined following completion of Phase 1. 

Consultation

Community consultation is an important part of the planning process. Your questions, suggestions and comments will be carefully reviewed as the proposals continue to develop. 

It's important to note that our supporter consultations will continue throughout the 2026/27 season for the work that will form Phase 1. As stated above, there will be a number of logistical decisions regarding the layout of the Shed end of the stadium, and we encourage supporter input in that regard. 

We'll set up a stall next to the club shop for supporters to come and ask us and our chief architect questions before, during and after our first home league match against Runcorn Town on Tuesday 4th August. 

We'll also hold a drop-in session at the clubhouse on Thursday 27th August, between 6pm and 8pm. The bar will be open and supporters can view the plans in detail, ask questions and provide feedback about the above proposals. 

In addition to this, supporters are encouraged to provide any comments or ask any questions they have about our proposals by emailing ollie@wdcfc.co.uk. 

We'll continue to provide updates on our plans and funding challenges as they advance, and each future edition of The Bugle will feature progress reports until the work has been completed.

For now, we hope that you're as excited as we are about a new chapter in the history of West Didsbury & Chorlton Football Club, and we look forward to hearing your views about what we have planned.