Gate submit planning application to remodel Hartsdown Park

Margate have announced that their plans to remodel Hartsdown Park are now before Thanet District Council.

The club, in conjunction with IHG Hotels, want to build a one hundred and twenty bedroom hotel- a Holiday Inn Express- as well as making enormous changes to the rest of the ground. As they explain on their website, the proposals are as follows:

'The East Block will comprise of a 120-bedroom hotel together with restaurant and bar facilities. The building will also include space for MFC club offices and a club shop together with the stadium control room. The stand will be all-seater and have a capacity of 650.

The North Stand will be a terrace with a capacity of 1,300 and behind this and integrated into it, there will also be space for first team home and away changing facilities, together with ancillary spaces associated with the first team. Further on the ground floor, there will be several studio type spaces for various sports and associated activities. On the first floor, will be a café/bar facility which overlooks the pitch.

The car park will be extended to provide 104 parking spaces and will provide access to all of the East Block offices, shop and hotel. The North End turnstiles will be renewed and relocated into the site to allow access into the ground from the car park.'

Manager Jay Saunders commented:

“When I first spoke to the club about coming in as Manager, I was shown these plans and really impressed with the vision.

Having played for – and now managed – the club, I know how long this has been going on and I hope we can get across the line and get the permission everyone at the club is hoping for.”

Chairman Terry Painter added:

“This is an exciting step forward in the evolution of our plans to secure a long term, sustainable and exciting future for Margate Football Club. Lots of hard-work has taken place to get us to this stage and I’m sure supporters and members of the local community will see these plans and be equally as excited as us.”

Image from Margate FC Twitter- see more here.