Mill Farm Sports Village
{{short description|Sport facility in Lancashire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Mill Farm Sports Village
| nickname =
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| former_names =
| location = Coronation Way,
Wesham PR4 3JZ
Lancashire, England
| pushpin_map = United Kingdom Borough of Fylde
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Fylde, Lancashire
| pushpin_label_position =
| coordinates = {{coord|53.7973|N|2.8890|W|type:landmark|display=inline}}
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = {{Start date|2016|08|13|df=y}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Mill Farm Ventures Ltd.,
Lytham St Annes UK
| operator =
| surface = Grass
| scoreboard = Yes
| estimated_cost =
| suites = Yes
| architect = Frank Whittle Partnership Ltd.,
Preston UK
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors = Warden Construction Ltd.,
Preston, UK
| capacity = 6,000
| record_attendance =
| dimensions =
| tenants = AFC Fylde (2016–present)
}}
Mill Farm Sports Village is a multi-sport facility located on the outskirts of the town of Wesham in the Borough of Fylde in Lancashire, England. Facilities include the Mill Farm football stadium, home to the football team AFC Fylde since 2016, and several 3G football and hockey pitches.
History
On 19 January 2008, AFC Fylde announced plans to move from their current ground at Kellamergh Park in the village of Warton to a then unnamed location, and in February 2010 unveiled plans for a new Community Sports Complex in Wrea Green; however, the planning application was rejected by Fylde Council in April 2012.[http://archive.afcfylde.co.uk/the-club/future-plans.php AFC Fylde | Future Plans] May 2012 Update, retrieved 06 January 2020
On 3 September 2013, the club announced that new plans had been drawn up for a £18 million multi-sport development, Mill Farm Sports Village, on the outskirts of Wesham.Fylde Council Application 13/0655 As well as a 6,000-capacity Football League standard football stadium with supporters' facilities, the development would include community sports pitches, sports science facilities, and commercial opportunities including a supermarket.[http://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/mill-farm-goes-before-dclg/ Mill farm goes before DCLG] Place NorthWest, 21 November 2014 The planning application for the stadium and associated facilities was accepted by Fylde Borough Council on 4 June 2014.[http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/mill-farm-planning-permission-approved/ Mill Farm planning permission approved] AFC Fylde, 5 June 2014
The Preston architecture company the Frank Whittle Partnership Limited (the FWP group), who have been involved in the successful design and delivery of a number of other football stadiums in Lancashire [http://www.fwpgroup.co.uk/sectors/ FWP Group | Portfolio], retrieved 06 January 2020 was chosen to design the sporting village. The prime developer chosen was Warden Construction Limited, also of Preston. Construction began in March 2015 [https://www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk/latest-news-and-features/warden-construction-to-begin-work-on-18m-afc-fylde-stadium/ Warden Construction to begin work on £18m AFC Fylde stadium] Lancashire Business View, 11 March 2015 and was completed by the middle of 2016. The ground opened on 13 August 2016 [http://stadiumdb.com/stadiums/eng/mill_farm Mill Farm Stadium] Stadium Database, retrieved 06 January 2020 for the club's first National League North match of the season against Brackley Town. The final cost of the sports village was approximately £25 million.
Design and facilities
The main structure within Mill Farm Sports Village is the football stadium.
The stadium is designed to hold up to 6,000 spectators in three stands. The main grandstand offers 2,000 seats and hospitality areas, and the east and south stands provide covered terracing. The stadium is decorated almost solely in black and white colours for its outer/inner cladding and combines a smooth, curved roof.
Customer facilities include:[http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/mill-farm/ AFC Fylde | Mill Farm] Mill Farm, retrieved 06 January 2020
- 290-seat sports bar ("Bradley's") featuring over 20 large-screen TVs
- 80-seat restaurant with roof terrace
- 40-seat cafe
- conference and event facilities across 9 rooms
Other facilities
=Other sporting facilities=
As well as the football stadium, the Mill Farm Sports Village also contains artificial turf football and hockey pitches for community use, and a sports science centre.
=Commercial facilities=
Prizes and honours
In 2017, the project team behind the Mill Farm Sports Village, composed of representatives from Warden Construction, Frank Whittle Partnership, Mill Farm Ventures and AFC Fylde, PWA Planning, Partington and Associates, Petit Singleton Associates, Preston City Council and Fylde Borough Council, was a regional winner in Local Authority Building Control North West Awards. The judges praised the winners for their: “innovative and creative solutions and building control professionalism that leads to safe, sustainable and high quality construction projects.” [https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/business/mill-farm-project-scoops-honour-1-8563110 Mill Farm project scoops honour], Blackpool Gazette, 25 May 2017
Criticism
Not long after its opening in 2016, Mill Farm Sports Village was criticised by fans and community groups for failing to provide sufficient on-site car parking, and creating traffic problems for the surrounding roads. Following visits from its planning inspectors in 2018, the Fylde Council ruled that Mill Farm's parking facilities and AFC Fylde's traffic management plans were "inadequate".[https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/business/not-enough-parking-for-football-fans-1-9607248 Not enough parking for football fans] Blackpool Gazette, 20 February 2019
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/ Association Football Club Fylde]