Whitehaven reveal £6m stadium development plans

League One side Whitehaven have announced an ambitious £6million plan to redevelop the Recreation Ground. 

In its current form, the Recreation Ground has been the official home of Haven for the last 71 years.

The work would involve the introduction of a new building – The Hub – at one end of the ground, with facilities including a 700 capacity space for events hosting, hydrotherapy pools for rehabilitation and spaces for community groups.

In addition, new stands will be created at the stadium, while the club’s grass turf will be replaced in favour of a new 4G surface.

Speaking about the proposals, club director Mark Stamper said: “We’ve been working on this for four years and this is where we are now.

“It’s not a wild dream; we have a detailed plan. This is a historic home for rugby league in Whitehaven. We don’t need a new stadium, just renovation of our existing facilities.”

Stamper says he hopes local businesses will get involved to help secure the funding, and added that the project cost could be scaled down to £3million, so long as it didn’t compromise the final outcome.

He said: “It’s about doing something that would benefit the whole community as well as elevating this rugby club.

“We need to make it happen and whatever avenues we need to go down to secure that, so be it.”