A proposal to construct an additional football pitch at Hassocks Football Club has been put forward in an effort to boost youth football provision.

The club has filed a planning request to establish a new natural grass playing surface at its existing venue, The Beacon, which lies adjacent to Brighton Road.

The fresh pitch would be positioned to the south of the existing stadium, on land referred to as South Field, and would offer supplementary space for competitive fixtures and practice sessions to alleviate strain on the primary field.

It would additionally serve to accommodate the club’s expanding youth programme, which now encompasses 39 squads and over 550 young people.

The plans specify that the pitch would feature neither floodlights nor permanent buildings in order to minimise effects on the local environment, with entry and vehicle accommodation continuing to use the present access point and parking areas.

The location falls within the South Downs National Park, which holds status as a designated International Dark Skies Reserve.

The parcel of land earmarked for the development currently functions as managed grassland and sits a brief distance from the neighbouring South Downs Lodges.

Should the scheme receive approval, the initiative would provide a modest but vital piece of community infrastructure, according to the club.

Club officials maintain that the enlargement will encourage physical wellbeing, cut down on journeys to external facilities, and present additional chances for youngsters to participate in football regularly.

The proposed playing surface would span 100 metres by 64 metres and incorporate both primary and secondary drainage networks, guaranteeing usability across the entire season.

Hassocks FC, established in 1902, operated for its initial 80 years within the Mid Sussex Football League and the Brighton and Hove and District Football League.

The men’s first team achieved promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division for the 2025/26 campaign, whilst the women’s side currently competes in the Sussex County Women’s League Premier Division.

The club relocated to its present home at The Beacon in 1992.