Major plans to upgrade Renfrewshire football ground given green light

Glasgow Times

04-06-2025

Johnstone Burgh's application to renovate Keanie Park, situated on Auchenlodment Road, has been approved by Renfrewshire Council's planning department, subject to conditions.
Submitted by Glasgow-based firm GlenEtive Projects on behalf of Scott Graham, the club's director, the plans include the replacement of four lighting columns and the erection of four new lighting columns, the installation of a 4G Astro pitch and associated engineering works, and the installation of a portable WC toilet blocks and prefabricated spectator stand.
The proposal also details mechanical, electrical and other engineering works, an outdoor amenity space and landscaping.
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The planning statement, which was submitted in August of last year, outlined the vision to create "a community club for all groups".
It read: "The club has recently been promoted and therefore SFA requirement(s) are the clubs facility must be upgraded.
"The overall vision is to create community club for all groups within the local community to use the facility and improvements to the pitch, club and facility to allow access to all groups and disabilities.
"Overall, the proposals would make a positive contribution to the local sports and health and wellbeing in Johnstone."
In its assessment of the plans, Renfrewshire Council said: "In terms of the visual impact, the proposed synthetic playing surface raises no visual amenity issues of substance.
"The spectator stand also raises no significant visual concerns.
"While the stand occupies an elevated position, it is of a very modest scale and is in keeping with the character of the site as an established football ground.
"The toilet block would be sited in relative proximity to Auchenlodment Road and more prominently visible from the road.
"While the lighting columns would be quite notably high, they would be sufficiently set back from the roads to result in minimal impact on the respective street scenes.
"With regard to issues of noise and disturbance, as the football ground is already long established and the proposals are not increasing its capacity.
"The addition of a synthetic playing surface enables the pitch to be used more frequently without deterioration, thereby enabling its use to be extended to the local community.
"The extension of sport and recreation facilities has clear potential to benefit the health and lifestyles of many people and the wider community."