£5m cash boost from Dewsbury Rams plan

New figures show the club, the local community and Kirklees Council will share a £4.9m windfall as part of the proposed development at Owl Lane.

Harron Homes, who want to build 234 homes next to the Tetley’s stadium, will provide a full size floodlit all-weather sports pitch and two floodlit all weather multi use games areas suitable for a variety of sports including five-a-side football and netball.

They will also cover the cost of a new 334 space car park to provide more space for the Rams to grow in future, and a new park extending along the whole western boundary.

The total cost is estimated to be £1.6m.

And Harron will shortly open discussions with Kirklees around contributing towards education and the construction of much needed on-site affordable housing. The company want to build 234 homes on the council owned land next to the site.

The Rams will also generate income from the commercial use of the facilities.

Rams’ chairman Mark Sawyer said: “These facilities are absolutely essential for the club and the players and the people who will benefit from our youth development.

“It’s a very difficult time with no grants out there. This will secure things for the club for many, many years to come.”

Further benefits to the Rams include £234,000 cash and a further £50,000 grant to improve changing facilities at the stadium from leaseholders Stirling Scotfield.

They will also give £1.1m to Kirklees, and put a further £1.1m into a trust for the benefit of the community. This will be overseen by Kirklees.

Three public consultations will take place in Dewsbury next week.