Nash Partnership was appointed by Larkhall Athletic Football Club to assist in the renovation of their Plain Ham ground on the north-east edge of the city of Bath.
The club wanted to upgrade various facilities to provide a training and social base for all their teams, and to safeguard the future of their senior teams by removing any technical barriers to promotion.
The proposals involved new energy-efficient flood lighting, a new 3G pitch, and a replacement stand. Nash Partnership initially worked with the leadership team to establish a masterplan, delivered in part through our Community Engagement Initiative, to help ensure these facilities (and other potential developments) were fully coordinated and the best possible solution was taken forwards. Once agreed, applications for each element were made, with Nash Partnership leading a consultant team on the planning application for the replacement stand (a project involving the re-purposing of the existing stand as a covered standing area, with a new larger stand erected in its place, alongside ecology gains in the form of a new grassland and hedgerow planting). This process was made easier by early engagement with the BaNES planning team through their pre-app procedure, which helped establish the key points we would have to address. This was particularly important as the project had a notable time constraint, requiring all constructions works to take place within the short off-season.
Nash Partnership worked with E&M West (Structural Engineers), Greenhalgh Landscape Architects, and GE Consulting (Ecologists), to provide the necessary information and ultimately make a successful application. Technical assistance was provided on site during the construction phase of the stand, leading to the entire project being delivered on time and on budget ready for the start of the 2024/25 season.
The new Larkhall Athletic FC facilities are expected to have a huge positive impact on the culture and financial stability of the club. The new 3G pitch allows all the teams (as well as other external clubs and institutions) to use the site more regularly, and avoids potential match-day postponements, thus driving revenue and helping to enhance the sense of community within the club.
Commenting on the project, Larkhall AFC’s Chairman Paul Rankin said: “At the club, we strive to provide the best quality coaching, facilities and equipment so all players can develop to their full potential. The renovation of our Plain Ham ground has been an integral part of this in helping us to build a future where excellence and community spirit come together in one place. We are over the moon to see these significant new facilities in use, which create a legacy for our players and supporters alike.”
Nash Partnership is proud to have helped support the leadership team and the wider club in delivering this ambitious and meaningful project. You can watch a short video of the new facilities being used here.