Brentford Football Club on the Move

Brentford is acknowledged as being one of the friendliest league clubs, and Griffin Park as a ground with a real family atmosphere.  For the community immediately around the ground, the club is seen a wonderful community asset.  The irritation of not being able to park easily on match days is outweighed by the buzz of welcoming home and away supporters to the area - even for those of us who are not football fans and seldom attend a match.  Living on a road that takes people from the station to the stadium, we've never had trouble, and of course local shops pubs and restaurants benefit from the regular extra trade. 

But the club cannot stay - the ground is so tightly squeezed into its site that there is no space for decent catering outlets for the fans, let alone the conference and other income-generating space that a league club needs to keep its head above water financially.  We have known for years that they needed to move to a modern stadium and the Council, led by local Councillors, has been determined that the club stays local if at all possible.  The club secured a stake in the triangular site on Lionel Road, between the A4 and Kew Bridge Station, some years ago - but are only now in a position to move forward on a development scheme.  It's currently a mix of uses including a waste transfer station.

Their initial plans - not yet submitted as a planning application, are now available.  You can see them on-line at www.brenfordcommunitystadium.com - or visit the exhibition at Griffin Park (Braemar Road entrance) on the 17th 18th and 19th January (more details below).  Their intention is to provide, not only a home for the club and maybe a rugby team, but also a home for the Community Sports Trust which delivers so many activities for young people across west London.  There will of course have to be "enabling" development  which is needed to pay for the cost of a new 20,000 seater stadium.

People have asked me what is happening to Griffin Park.  The club already have planning permission (the application number is p/2012/0026) to redevelop the site for housing and public open space - and this will help fund the new development. 

Many in Brentford will be sad to see the club move from Griffin Park, right in the heart of the community - but we know that if it's to survive, it has to move to a modern stadium. If it can do this on the edge of the town, that will be the best thing for the survival of our local club.

The Pre-Planning Submission Consultation Exhibition, where the plans will be on show and members of the development team on hand to discuss the plans and answer local residents’ questions will be taking place at the following times and dates, all at Griffin Park, (Braemar Road entrance)   Thursday 17th January, 5:30pm - 8:30pm;  Friday 18th, 1 - 5pm

    Saturday 19th, 9:30am - 12noon