The stadium used by Burton Rugby Club for over a hundred years is to be demolished and converted into a small shopping area and restaurants, using mezzanine floors to increase the area of floor space.
Burton Rugby Club, one of the oldest rugby clubs in the UK, was established in 1870 and is now looking forward to a stadium fit for the twenty-first century, after a deal to convert their existing premises at Peel Croft into a mixed retail site, was agreed by East Staffordshire council.
Concerns that the new building contravenes planning laws were allayed when it was explained that almost half of the total 10,000 square metres will be accommodated on the mezzanine floors.
Peel Croft, the club’s permanent home ground since 1910, had become increasingly inadequate over the last few years. Planning permission has already been granted for a new stadium to be built at Branston Bridge and now that the sale of the existing stadium has been agreed, these plans can move forward. The new site will have a modern clubhouse with extensive training facilities and ten permanent pitches – six full size and four junior pitches. It is expected that that the facilities will be available for use by schools and sports clubs in the area and for community events.
A new road traffic system has been designed to serve the new retail park and additional parking constructed for over two hundred cars with ten motorbikes and twenty bicycle spaces.
