The Russell Martin Foundation (RMF), a Brighton-based charity which supports people through football, is hoping to replace Southwick Football Club’s facilities, in Old Barn Way, with a floodlit 3g football pitch, changing rooms and a clubhouse containing a bar and kitchen.
The charity wants to offer health, wellbeing and teaching classes in the new building as well as exercise groups and workshops.
The application said: “The proposal aims to secure the site’s continued long-term viable and sustainable use as a leisure and social asset which will be of benefit to the local Southwick area and the wider community in West Sussex.
A Russel Martin coaching session (Image: The Russel Martin Foundation) “The local area will benefit through access to sport, health/leisure and flexible use of social/events spaces available at the site.
“The proposal also aims to promote uptake in sport and increase the local provision/access to high-quality recreational and social facilities and outdoor spaces.”
RMF is backed by Russell Martin, a former professional footballer for Norwich City, Rangers and Scotland, who is the current manager of Southampton FC. The foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which he created to give something back to the area where he was born and raised.
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As owner of the site, Adur District Council released £50,000 of funding from developers so that RMF could carry out urgent safety works to the facility, allowing football to be played at the ground again in the short-term.
CEO of the Russell Martin Foundation Alan Sanders said: “We are delighted to have got that through and we hope to get it finalised and to get things going.
“The approval of the application is a major step forward but we are not quite there yet.”
The planning application was previously approved by the district council in December, pending further information on drainage.
Mr Sanders said arrangements still need to be finalised with the council.