Mill Farm Sports Village, situated on the outskirts of Wesham in the Borough of Fylde, Lancashire, England, is a comprehensive multi-sport facility. It features the Mill Farm football stadium, which has been the home of AFC Fylde since 2016, along with several 3G football and hockey pitches.
AFC Fylde initially announced plans to relocate from their former ground at Kellamergh Park in Warton to a new site on 19 January 2008. In February 2010, the club revealed plans for a new Community Sports Complex in Wrea Green. However, Fylde Council rejected the planning application in April 2012.
On 3 September 2013, the club presented revised plans for an £18 million multi-sport development, Mill Farm Sports Village, on the outskirts of Wesham. This development was to include a 6,000-capacity football stadium designed to Football League standards, community sports pitches, sports science facilities, and commercial spaces, including a supermarket. Fylde Borough Council approved the planning application for the stadium and associated facilities on 4 June 2014.
The Preston-based architecture firm Frank Whittle Partnership Limited (the FWP group), known for designing several other football stadiums in Lancashire, was selected to design the sports village. Warden Construction Limited, also based in Preston, was chosen as the primary developer. Construction commenced in March 2015 and was completed by mid-2016. The stadium opened its doors on 13 August 2016, hosting AFC Fylde’s first National League North match of the season against Brackley Town. The final cost of the sports village was around £25 million.
The focal point of Mill Farm Sports Village is the football stadium, which can accommodate up to 6,000 spectators across three stands. The main grandstand includes 2,000 seats and hospitality areas, while the east and south stands offer covered terracing. The design of the stadium is described as straightforward yet sophisticated, featuring a black and white color scheme and a smooth, curved roof. In addition to the stadium, the sports village houses 3rd generation artificial turf pitches for football and hockey, a sports science center, an Aldi supermarket, an Euro Garages petrol station with a Spar, a Greggs bakery, and a KFC fast food restaurant. Plans also include the potential for a 60-bed hotel on-site.
Customer facilities include:
- A 290-seat sports bar named “Bradley’s,” featuring over 20 large-screen TVs
- An 80-seat restaurant with a roof terrace
- A 40-seat café
- Conference and event facilities distributed across nine rooms
- Additional sporting facilities
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