Amersham & Chalfont Hockey Club has formally submitted a planning application to Buckinghamshire Council to replace its existing artificial pitch at Stanley Hill with two new sand-dressed surfaces to double its playing capacity.
Club chair Rob Levine emphasised the scale of the club’s operations and the pressure on existing facilities. “If you speak to anyone in Amersham, you’re bound to find some connection to hockey,” Levine said, noting that the club has over 500 juniors, “making it one of the biggest junior sections in the country.”
Levine stressed the breadth of participation, pointing out that the club isn’t just for younger players: “It’s not just for the kids: we have over 200 adults playing across 16 weekend teams and a thriving vets section with two Over 65s teams.”
The chair framed the expansion as essential for the club’s future, saying the project would help “future-proof” its operations and community value.
“One pitch isn’t big enough for us as we are now — we have more than double the number of members that England Hockey recommend for one pitch,” Levine said. “As players and volunteers we’re a big club and a great community asset, and we desperately need the facilities to match.”
The club currently runs programmes in local primary schools and offers Flyerz hockey sessions to broaden access, including opportunities for young people with disabilities.
At the time of reporting, Buckinghamshire Council has received the planning application but has not yet scheduled a decision or consultation period. Local residents and stakeholders will likely have the opportunity to comment during the statutory consultation once formal details are published.
