Local football club score donation from developers

A football club on the edge of Newton Abbot has secured a £2,000 donation from housebuilders who will be developing land around the team’s ground.

Buckland Athletic FC are now £2,000 up after winning a new supporter in Persimmon Homes South West who are constructing up to 450 homes around Homers Heath in Abbotskerswell.

The club, established in 1977, play in the Western League Premier Division where they are currently sixth in the table. They also have a venue facility at the ground that can be hired for a wide variety of corporate functions as well as celebratory and social occasions.

The five-star developer has outline planning permission to construct the homes and await decisions on more detailed plans for the outlay of the site, which is due to include a school and commercial local centre.

£2.7m would also be delivered as part of the section 106 agreement, with money going towards playing pitches, bus services, improved cycle and pedestrian connections, a new link road, and territory for cirl bunting.

Persimmon also has homes for sale at Bradley Barton View in the west of Newton Abbot, with two, three, and four-bed houses available from £245,000.

The grant comes from the company’s Community Champions fund that sees over £700,000 every year donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain. Recent local recipients include Newton Abbot College and Dawlish Swimming Club.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes South West Sales Director Stacey Harris said:

“Persimmon is going to have a significant presence around Homers Heath over the coming years, providing hundreds of new homes for local people in Newton Abbot and nearby, and this means a new generation of supporters for Buckland Athletic who will, of course, be their local club.

“Both parties have recognised that this is a great opportunity for a partnership but we also see the social value the club provides for people in the area, encouraging team work, discipline, and good physical and mental health, as well as providing entertainment on the pitch.

“That’s why Persimmon is proud to support them through our Community Champions initiative as we continue to give our backing to local good causes and organisations in Newton Abbot.”

John Piller, Co-Chairman of Buckland Athletic FC, added:

“We’re delighted to have secured this support from Persimmon – we’re a growing club who want to diversify our offering to the local community, and fundraising like this will help us deliver on our vision for the club.

“It will be really exciting to see what the area will look like should they get all the permissions they need as we see future generations of Buckland fans being brought up around the corner from our ground, and we hope to work with local stakeholders to maximise the potential of the area.”