Improved facilities for ladies’ and children’s rugby teams are being pitched by a Cornish rugby club.

Redruth Rugby Club has recently approached Ben White Architecture to create proposals to expand and improve the club’s current facilities for the ladies’ and children’s teams with flood lighting at the club’s ground at Lower Cardrew Lane.

The ultimate aspiration for the club is to develop a building that can house additional accommodation to complement the club and its current facilities.

The main objectives of the development are to provide two changing facilities for the ladies’ teams for full squads (21 players) with access to both pitches, provide changing facilities for officials and provide additional multi-use/ community room with view over the whole pitch.

The facilities proposed would need to comply with Sport England and the RFU guidelines for design. The current site does not lie within any designated areas nor are there any listed buildings on or near the site.

There are protected trees to the eastern edge of the site which will be unaffected by any works.

The application states: “The layout has been conceived from wanting to connect the changing rooms to the pitches whilst being able to view both pitches from shelter for those watching rugby matches/training.

"The building is designed so it can be constructed in two phases based on available funding. The first phase would be the changing rooms and plant, with the community facilities potentially constructed at a later date.

"The changing rooms are located to the pitch side, with space for officials changing rooms, as per the guidance set out by the RFU and Sport England. The community facilities are then focussed on the main pitch to allow spectators to watch from the terrace."

It goes on to add that it is “essential” that the site should provide sufficient space for the proposed clubhouse, as well as space for future expansion, along with adequate car parking – including the potential for overspill – and access for service and emergency vehicles.

See more details of the planning application via the planning portal of Cornwall Council's website, reference PA23/10386.