Plans to upgrade Cheltenham’s Saracens Football Club facilities and establish the Petersfield Community and Sports Hub have moved significantly closer to reality. Cheltenham Borough Council has approved over £500,000 in funding for the Petersfield Park scheme, a key step forward for this community-driven project.
The new hub will be situated at the Saracens FC ground on the Moors estate, replacing the club’s current clubhouse housed in two shipping containers adjacent to the football pitch. This development is part of a broader strategy aimed at revitalizing the St Peters and Moors areas.
While the council owns the site, Saracens FC holds a 25-year lease on the football ground and the surrounding land where the temporary facilities reside, with 22 years remaining. At the council cabinet meeting on June 10, officials agreed on amended lease terms for Saracens FC and a separate lease structure for the Petersfield Partnership, a charitable incorporated organisation established in 2023 to oversee the hub’s construction and management.
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Victoria Atherstone, Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities and local councillor for St Peters, emphasized the hub’s community value. “The new centre will complement existing facilities like the YMCA Sports Centre and The Rock on Tewkesbury Road, helping bring the community closer together," she said. “It’s a huge improvement over the current arrangements for Saracens FC and will be a tremendous asset to a beloved local sports club.”
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, Peter Jeffries, highlighted the council’s collaborative approach. “We have a strong history of supporting local communities and know there will be challenges ahead, but this project exemplifies successful collective effort with the community at the lead.”
The council will allocate £356,643 from the Big Local fund, managed locally but administered by the council, along with additional fees and contributions from the housing revenue account and Police and Crime Commissioner funding, totaling £71,133. To ensure effective governance, the council will enter into a grant and management agreement with Petersfield Partnership, guaranteeing that the hub serves local interests throughout the lease period.
Once all lease arrangements and funding conditions are finalized, council finance and legal teams will have authority to conclude the lease agreements, advancing the hub toward construction and community use.