Alton Town Council is looking at its sites in the town and consulting the public on whether to take one of them forward as the preferred site for full assessment by the Football Foundation for a new 3G pitch in the town. This will start with a public meeting involving a presentation and question-and-answer session at the Alton Assembly Rooms at 6pm on Wednesday 17th September, with the opportunity for all to comment by 29th September 2025.
East Hampshire District Council’s Playing Pitch and Sports Facility Strategy 2024-40 highlighted that investment is needed in at least 3 additional full-sized FA-registered 3G pitches to cater for demand and population growth.
Due to the number of teams in the area and their accessibility, an additional full-sized pitch should be delivered in the North of the district.
Since the publishing of the strategy, the Football Foundation has completed further work as part of the update to the Local Football Facility Plan 2025 to look at team numbers and expected growth; Alton has been identified as the most suitable location to meet the strategic need. The Football Foundation has committed to delivering 40% of their investment into multi-sport facilities. Working with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), it was agreed that The Petersfield School and Alton 3G pitch would both provide multi-sport offers within East Hampshire district.
Several sites in the Alton parish have undergone an initial feasibility assessment and Alton Town Council needs to take a decision whether to take forward one of their three sites as the preferred site: Anstey Park, Diggers and Jubilee Fields, with Anstey Park scoring highest in an initial assessment. If Alton Town Council decides at the October Full Council meeting to take forward one site, then the town council would lead the project, with the support of the Football Foundation, which funds all of the initial feasibility work and up to 70% of the overall project.
It is anticipated that the feasibility work, which includes full public consultation, would take around 18 months.