A rugby club's future has been “secured” after plans for a new permanent home were approved.

The proposals for Sittingbourne Rugby Club to build new sports facilities on Wises Lane in Borden were given the green light by Swale council’s planning committee earlier this week.

Nine votes from councillors was enough for the proposals, which include two state-of-the-art rugby pitches alongside a two-storey clubhouse and were put forward by developers Quinn Estates, to go ahead.

The new facilities will include a two-storey club building with six changing rooms and physiotherapy space, plus a social area with a bar and kitchen that opens out onto a balcony overlooking the pitches.

There would be two state-of-the-art sports pitches which meet both Sports England and Rugby Football Union standards.

Club president Roger Down says the new facilities have “secured the future of the club”, which has outgrown the use of Gore Court Cricket Club.

He said: “After what has been a long wait with lots of returns to the planning committee it’s great news for the club.

“Quinn Estates has been brilliant in answering the questions of the committee and applying the adaptations that were required to get it approved.

“We have a 125-year lease of the pitches and the clubhouse with the developers which is superb for us.

“We will be working with both Swale council and Borden Parish council so that the whole community can use the clubhouse and the pitches.

“The success and growth of our junior teams has meant we have outgrown the cricket club which provides us no real security. Now we are the masters of our own destiny.

“My wife has already joked that I will finally be able to sleep at night now.”

Plans were previously deferred as the committee concerned the number of car parking spaces and toilets, lighting and access to the site.

Labour councillor Simon Clark likened the design of the community hub to “something a child could have drawn” and said it was not in keeping with the village.

He said: “A five-year-old with an Etch A Sketch and a pack of crayons could have designed something better than that. It’s absolutely hideous.”

In response to concerns, the club clarified the times for matches and junior training will be during daylight hours so no floodlighting would be needed.

The developers also lifted the number of parking spaces from 11 to 76.

Case officer Simon Dunn-Lewin explained the number of toilets, of which there 13, plus the two in official changing rooms, was more than sufficient for any event taking place.

A revised design of the clubhouse was accepted by Borden Parish council, who originally opposed the plans.

As a result, the project, which is part of the controversial Applegate Park development, was approved by Swale council on Thursday, November 10.

Outline plans, which included homes, a primary school, and a shop were approved in August 2021 following a high-profile planning appeal.

Members of Borden Wildlife Group recently picketed the construction site, saying work threatened the habitat of local skylarks and called badger gates used by the developers “ruthless”.

​​​Borden Parish Council had originally opposed the plans, saying the clubhouse design was not in keeping with the rural setting, developers had underestimated the number of people who would be travelling to the facility on matchdays and feared wayward balls would end up in a nearby nature reserve.