Fawley Rugby Football Club given permission for new clubhouse

SOARING costs have forced a popular rugby club to nearly halve the size of a planned new clubhouse.

Fawley Rugby Football Club has won permission from New Forest District Council for the new base after its previous plans had to be scrapped as the budget expanded.

As reported in the A&T, in 2020 the club applied to build a new single-storey building with 630 square metres of floorspace at its ground off Newlands Road in Gang Warily. Costings estimated it would be around £1.8m.

The new proposals, signed off by NFDC, would be around 340 square metres and the club expects it to cost around £350,000.

Chair Ross Macfarlane told the A&T: “When the dreaded Covid hit, building prices sky-rocketed and the club were forced to re-think their proposal.

“Planning permission was resubmitted earlier this year with a simpler design using an easy-to-construct modular building which was a much more affordable option.

“The club is delighted to confirm this has now been approved and building can now start.”

He added: “Fundraising is constantly a challenge but the club’s dedicated band of volunteers are walking, cycling and baking their way to their target of £350,000.

“This means that the work can begin to clear the site and it is hoped the new building will be fully operational by early 2023.”

The clubhouse, which will be constructed off site, should have a life span of around 30-50 years.

Mr Macfarlane added: “Many buildings in our area have lasted considerably longer with this type of construction. Also we now have the flexibility to build this in two phases.

“The first is the basic clubhouse with kitchen and bar plus a function room, and the second will be the changing rooms and storage space.

“We would ideally like to complete both stages at the same time but this will depend on what funding we can find.”

The club has around 200 junior players aged from four to 15 years old. It also has two senior male teams with around 50 players and recently started a walking rugby section, aimed at people over 50.

Anyone interested in supporting the club’s building work with grants or investments is asked to get in touch by emailing enquiries@fawleyrfc.co.uk