Priory Park plans could make Bodmin the new home of Cornwall FA

The old stand at Priory Park has been part of the furniture for a long time. Now it is set to make way, and what is planned for the site could put the town at the centre of football across the county.

Cornwall FA has submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council for a new 3G pitch at Priory Park in Bodmin. It is the first concrete step in a longer-term plan that would also bring a new community hub to the park, along with a new headquarters for Cornwall FA itself.

The application follows months of work behind the scenes with key stakeholders, including Bodmin Town Council and Bodmin Town Football Club. The aim, according to Cornwall FA, is a facility that meets the needs of the local community and grassroots football right across Cornwall.

A project in two phases

The development is being taken forward in two stages.

Phase 1 is the 3G pitch, along with the facilities needed to support both the new pitch and the existing second grass pitch. That includes changing facilities for players and match officials, spectator toilets and other supporting facilities.

Phase 2 is the community hub, which would also become the new home of Cornwall FA.

A funding application has gone to the Football Foundation and is currently being assessed.

Why the stand is coming down

As part of the project, the existing supporting facilities need improving so they are fit for purpose and meet the required standards. Cornwall FA says the current stand and changing room building is in a poor state of repair and would need significant work to provide a modern, safe and welcoming environment.

The project group looked at two options. One was to refurbish the existing building. The other was to bring in temporary facilities while the wider development moves forward.

Given the age and condition of the building, the amount of work involved, and the fact it would be removed anyway as part of Phase 2, the group concluded the best approach is to remove the current stand and changing room building and install temporary facilities.

What the temporary facilities will include

The temporary set-up will serve both the 3G pitch and the existing grass pitch until the community hub is built. It is expected to include:

• Player changing rooms
• Match official changing facilities
• Male, female and accessible spectator toilets
• Office space

Cornwall FA says it recognises the history and importance of the stand to Priory Park and the local football community. More details are promised about how that history could be celebrated, and whether parts of the existing facility could be worked into the new community hub.

What happens next

Submitting the planning application is the latest milestone, but there are still several stages to go before work can begin.

Once the planning process has run its course, Cornwall FA will keep working with Bodmin Town Council, Bodmin Town Football Club and other partners on the next steps.

There will also be more community engagement to help shape the hub. Cornwall FA says it wants to hear from the wider community so the facility reflects what local people want and need, complements what Bodmin already has, and works as a community space alongside its role as the association’s new home.

Cllr Mike Barbery, Mayor of Bodmin, said: “This is an exciting milestone for a project of real scale and ambition for Bodmin. The investment proposed for Priory Park has the potential to create fantastic new opportunities for grassroots football and community participation, while the ambition for a new community hub and Cornwall FA headquarters represents something really significant for the town.

“Bodmin Town Council is proud to be working alongside Cornwall FA and Bodmin Town Football Club to help bring that ambition forward. There is still work to do and further community engagement to come, but it is particularly exciting to see Bodmin at the heart of an opportunity of this scale.”

John Fabby, Chair of the Cornwall FA Board, said: “I am delighted that the project has reached this important milestone. Given the significant technical challenges involved, this progress is especially rewarding for the whole team.

“Since Vicky Fisher’s appointment, the project has been given renewed priority, as today’s announcement clearly demonstrates. The Board would like to thank Vicky and Dan Greenough for their hard work and commitment in bringing us to this point.

“We would also like to recognise the invaluable support and contribution of Bodmin Town Council, which has been an integral part of the project team throughout. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Bodmin Town Football Club as the project develops and collectively taking the next steps towards delivering our ambitions for Priory Park.”

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