FAMILY favourite Bowdon Rugby Club is set to get bigger and better after ambitious plans got the green light from planning chiefs.

Demand on the Clay Lane club is ever-increasing, with an ongoing influx of members, particularly in the under-age group. The club currently boasts more than 1,000 members, social and playing, and over the next three seasons, three more sides are to be formed; U16s, junior colts and senior colts.

The club also played host to the Australian team during the U20 Rugby World Cup 2016.

Currently the club only owns two of the six pitches it uses. It leases two pitches from the council, known as the ‘Ponderosa pitches’, it has an informal agreement to use Hale County Club’s pitch and the other – ‘Frankland pitch’ – is used through a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with a Hale family.

Two applications went before Trafford Council’s planning committee in July.

One, proposed by Bowdon Rugby Club, was to erect of 12 new floodlights, resurface the car park, and extend the clubhouse to include a new lobby, additional changing rooms and a physio room.

The other, proposed by the owners of the Frankland pitch, was to build two new detached homes on Green Belt land directly north of said pitch, on Ridgeway Road.

The intention was to sell the Frankland pitch to the club should the homes be approved, allowing the club to apply for funding and secure the land for sports.

As part of this application, it was proposed that the club enter into a Community Use Agreement with the council, which would include the use of the club’s pitches by schools and community groups free of charge.

In order for development on the Green Belt, a case of ‘very special circumstances’ must be presented. The Frankland family put forward the argument that the community benefit from the transfer of the pitch to the club would outweigh the damage done to the greenbelt.

And it seemed that members of the planning committee agreed.

Cllr Dr Karen Barclay said: “I think at a time when we are really trying to push public health and for youngsters to improve their wellbeing, I can’t think of anything more beneficial. You will get more children and young people taking up sports and getting more exercise.

“So many people will benefit and the club is bringing international gains to the region.”

Cllr Daniel Bunting also supported the scheme and said the benefits outweigh the ‘small damage done to the greenbelt’.

After a short debate, the council passed approved the housing application on Ridgeway Road and a minute later unanimously voted in favour of the clubhouse and field proposal.

Speaking after the meeting, club chairman Mark Jordan said: “The decision by councillors is great news for the hundreds of local people, families and community groups that are part of the Bowdon Rugby Club family.

“Now we can get on with improving our playing, changing and hosting facilities for the benefit of many local adults and children who enjoy playing at Bowdon week in and week out. Bowdon Rugby Club is ambitious for future success and growth and we warmly welcome the decision by Trafford Council to back our ambition.”