Rugby club hopes for clubhouse completion by 2026

Derbyshire Dales District Council approved plans for the clubhouse on 12 September

A rugby club in Derbyshire is "optimistic" it will be able to use its brand new clubhouse by the end of next year.

After having previous designs rejected, Derbyshire Dales District Council has now given Matlock Rugby Club permission to build its new clubhouse at its home in Mill Road, in Cromford Meadows, Cromford.

Chairman of the Baileans, David Toone, said building the structure could cost between £700,000 and £1 million.

Mr Toone plans to demolish the existing building, begin reconstruction in April 2026, and have a "not fully finished but usable" clubhouse ready by November 2026.

'Community asset'

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Toone said the existing clubhouse was "extremely tired".

"Anyone that's been down there knows we're permanently fighting leaks. It's cold, it's damp, and it's not very inviting, to be honest," he added.

The approved plans will see the current one-storey clubhouse demolished and improved to support its 15 teams for men, women and juniors.

The new building will have six changing rooms, toilets, including a disabled bathroom, a physio room, a games space, a club shop and larger pavilion, bar and kitchen areas.

"We want a pavilion and a clubhouse that fits our status quite honestly," said Mr Toone.

"The clubhouse will be open for anybody to come and rent it or even use it free of charge.

"We let local schools use the ground and the facilities free of charge at the moment, so we feel it's been a real good asset for the community, not just locally, but in the wider community as well."

Mr Toone changed the plans after receiving objections from the council and Historic England

Mr Toone said Historic England objected to plans for the building to be two storeys high, so it was changed to a one-storey building with a sloping, higher ceiling.

Following approval, a council report said: "The proposal holds a key benefit of enhancing sports facilities within the local and wider area.

"The use of the site for sports has been long established, thus the proposal, in securing the longevity of facilities on site, would positively contribute to the area in this regard."

"The design currently took all comments on board and produced a single-storey building on the existing footprint that brought the service buildings under one roof and made the most of the view towards the pitches, railway line and hillside beyond," said Mr Toone.

Without receiving any grants for the building, Mr Toone said the club had been saving money for the project for several years.

"It is early days, we currently have a GoFundMe page and are talking to one or two local benefactors," he said.

"We're optimistic that we're going to get there."