AN INCREASE in capacity will allow more spectators to watch Tadley Calleva Football Club matches next season.

As part of club moving up the ranks in the Wessex League, it needed to improve the facilities at Barlow Park, in Silchester Road, to meet Football Association (FA) standards.

The club had applied to West Berkshire Council for permission for a new stand, which was approved on May 30.

Now that the club has gained approval from borough council, it will begin work on building the new stand at the facility.

The stand will have a width of approximately 3.2 metres, and a length of 18.9 metres, with a sloped roof from the front to the back, with the maximum height of approximately 3.2 metres, dropping to three metres at the rear.

When the application was submitted, there were no objections to the plans, with Sport England endorsing the scheme.

In a statement Sport England said: “The proposed development is for ancillary facilities supporting the principal use of the site as a playing field and does not affect the quantity or quality of playing pitches or otherwise adversely affect their use.”

In reaching a conclusion to approve the plans to develop the new stand, West Berkshire Council officers wrote: “Having taken account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations referred to above, it is considered that the application is acceptable and is recommended for approval subject to conditions.”

With the club having been given the green light, it will shortly begin work on removing the current 58-seater stand, in favour of the new 126 seat facility.

Tadley Calleva FC play in the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division, and hopes to have the new stand built in time for next season.