Work starts on stadium project

The first phase of construction work on a major £18m stadium and retail development is set to start this week.
Conifer trees felled for the Mill Farm projectConifer trees felled for the Mill Farm project
Conifer trees felled for the Mill Farm project

Building work for the Mill Farm project at Wesham – including a 6,000 capacity stadium for football team AFC Fylde – was finally given the go-ahead last month.

After several weeks preparing the site for development construction workers are expected to be on site today.

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James French, chief executive of Mill Farm Ventures, said staff have spent close to a month clearing land for in readiness for the project to begin.

James French, boss of Mill Farm VenturesJames French, boss of Mill Farm Ventures
James French, boss of Mill Farm Ventures

He added: “Over the past three weeks we have been clearing the site of all conifer trees and we are now in a position in which all trees have been felled and are being repositioned by the temporary site entrance.

“The trees are being prepared for processing and removal from site which will commence from today.

“Over the next week the construction company appointed will begin developing a site entrance, temporary car park and site yard to enable them to commence works of removing all the top soil for the land and constructing the road, which will eventually link into the existing roundabout.

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“The company will also be preparing the land for utilities for the beginning of main construction of the ground.

“The construction company will be unloading more than 50 wagons for the site set up.”

Outline plans to build a 6,000 capacity stadium for AFC Fylde, Aldi supermarket, petrol station, pub and hotel at Mill Farm in Wesham were passed by Fylde Council last year.

But due to the size and scale of the project it was referred to Secretary of State Eric Pickles’ National Planning Unit while discussions continued with Fylde Council on dozens of conditions for the development.

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But last month the final legal documents for the project were signed, with work to begin this week.

Speaking last month, an AFC Fylde spokesman said the scheme was still subject to challenge under judicial review, but remained “resonably confident” this would not happen.

The judicial review started last month and is expected to last for another three weeks.

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