New lease agreement for Daventry Town Football Club

Cabinet members have agreed to a long-term lease of land to support Daventry Town Football Club (DTFC) to secure investment to develop and improve the facilities.

At their meeting on 16 July, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet agreed to a new lease agreement of 25 years for land at Browns Road. The current lease is £5,200 per annum.

Daventry Town Football Club, whose current lease expires in 2038, had approached the council to request a new lease agreement of 25 years. The longer-term lease would enable them to approach external investors, who often require leases of 21 or 25 years, for funding to install a new third generation artificial pitch, estimated at a cost of around £600,000.

Due to the amount of unexpired time on the lease, the Council would not ordinarily be engaging with the tenant about a renewal, but as the scheme will enhance the overall sporting provision and deliver a greater community benefit, WNC is willing to accept a surrender of the current lease and grant a new lease. This would be dependent on tenant securing any relevant planning permission and the successful completion of the artificial pitch.

Cllr John Slope, West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said: “West Northamptonshire Council actively promotes health and wellbeing, and this initiative will support the development of the local sporting provision for the benefit of local residents in Daventry.

“We will work with Daventry Town Football Club over the upcoming months to finalise the arrangements for the lease.”

Cllr Kamala Guliyeva – Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure said: “Daventry Town Football Club is valued by the local community, and I am delighted West Northamptonshire Council has been able to support an extension on their lease so they can seek investment for improved sporting facilities.

“The Club actively promotes health and wellbeing, particularly for those under the age of 18 through its junior football teams, and the creation of a new artificial pitch will help them support many more young people in the years to come.