Ambitious plans to transform a football ground by adding two new stands and a 120-bed hotel look set to be approved by councillors.

The proposed scheme by Margate Football Club has been on the cards for years and the expected green light next week will signal a major step in the future transformation of the Hartsdown Park ground.

The plans include a Holiday Inn Express and a new all-seater stand in the East Block with capacity for 650 fans.

In the ground floor of the new hotel would be a bar and restaurant, retail unit, club shop and club offices, and a stadium control room on the first floor.

At the the northern end of the site, the scheme involves the development of a second stand with standing terraces for 1,300 spectators.

The ground floor of the stand will house the home and away changing rooms and have three studio spaces with a café/bar on the first floor overlooking the pitch.

The car park would be extended to provide 104 parking spaces and provide access to all of the East Block offices, shop and hotel.

Plans also include the North End turnstiles being renewed and relocated to allow access into the ground from the car park.

Officers at Thanet District Council are recommending the decision on the proposal be deferred for approval, once consultation has been undertaken with the Secretary of State, which is required due to an objection from Sport England over the loss of part of a playing field to parking.

The application by the football club has been developed with hotel partner IHG Hotels and the brand Holiday Inn Express.

In a document put together by GPM2 Design Ltd, club bosses say the development of the ground has been discussed for many years.

A previous application, which involved an 80-bed hotel and fitness club, was submitted and approved in 2011, and they say this latest application builds on that, while reducing the other mixed uses previously agreed.

"The club has made significant steps forward within the last few years with a new owner and management team," the club said in its planning statement.

"The purchase of the freehold of the ground was a major step forward and together with the installation of the artificial pitch has shown the intent to grow and develop towards national and football league status.

"To achieve these aims the club has to develop revenue streams to both sustain the current level of investment and to provide the long term financial stability of the club.

"Developing the ground will help to achieve this and provide a multi-functional venue for the community to use and be part of.

"These alterations to the East and North blocks reflect the changes economically and socially since the inception of the extant permission and the increased growth of Margate and Thanet in general.

"There is a recognised demand within Thanet and the locality for overnight and longer-term hotel accommodation.

"The latest reports show a significant shortfall in available bed spaces within Thanet and particularly Margate and this is one of the drivers behind the major hotel brands desire to develop suitable sites within the district."

Some 33 letters of support have been received and two objections.

Speaking about the plans previously, club chairman Terry Painter said it was an "exciting step forward" in the evolution of Hartsdown Park towards securing a sustainable future.

Thanet council's planning committee will discuss the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday.

To see the plans visit https://planning.thanet.gov.uk/ and search reference F/TH/20/0714.

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