A FOOTBALL club’s ambitions to expand are being considered by Forest planners this week.

Newent Town AFC and Social Club wants to build new changing rooms, a fitness room and create two youth pitches behind their current Wildsmith Meadow ground just off the B4215 Gloucester Road in Malswick.

The Daffs are already in the process of adding an extension to the clubhouse for a new hospitality suite, backed by the Football Foundation and the Premier League Foundation, which will enhance the match day experience for spectators and provide a versatile space for community events.

The second scheme includes the creation of a new area of hardstanding next to the existing access to what was a former agricultural field in Hook’s Lane.

Currently the club has a first team pitch, with a stand and flood lights at the ground along with a clubhouse and changing rooms and a parking area.

The club says it has expanded its demographic to women’s football and youth teams.

And as such, it wants to develop the field to the rear of the ground which was used for the grazing of sheep.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust initially objected to the scheme and requested alterations to accommodate the reinstatement of the canal route across the site.

A meeting was held between representatives of the Canal Trust and the district council regarding the route’s future installation in relation to the football club’s proposal.

And due to existing onsite obstacles, a new route was put forward which would entail the proposal as submitted would have to be amended to accommodate the future installation of the canal route.

The agent updated the site plans accordingly to facilitate the amended installation of the canal route as suggested by the Canal Trust, and they withdrew their objection.

The proposal is strongly supported by the parish council and officers have recommended approval.

They say the proposal will further facilitate the expansion of the community facility, catering for a wider demographic.

“In doing so, the proposal has been found not to impact on ecology and within the submitted metrics will increase the biodiversity value of the site by 28.3 per cent,” the council officer said in their report.