Joint plans in for Solihull clubs

Birmingham & Solihull will sell their home ground at Sharman's Cross Road

Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Club and Solihull Moors Football Club have handed in their plans to redevelop the stadium they are due to share.

The rugby club are set to move in to Damson Park next summer and intend to sell their Sharman's Cross Road ground.

The proposed redevelopment of Damson Park includes the addition of a 1,000 spectator stand and a new third generation artificial training pitch.

The new facility would then be renamed the Borough Stadium.

If the proposals are agreed by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council then work should be completed for the ground-share to begin in time for the start of the 2009/10 season.

The intention is also to form the Solihull Sporting Partnership Community Foundation, to help benefit the local community, offering families across the borough wider opportunities to participate in sport.

Ground sharing with the Bees and setting up the Sporting Partnership at Damson Park will sustain both of us for the future

Solihull Moors chairman Nigel Collins

"This is a fantastic opportunity for both us and Solihull Moors to go forward together and create a stadium to be proud of," said Birmingham & Solihull chairman Brian Marshall.

Solihull Moors FC was formed only last year, as a merger between Solihull Borough and Moor Green, and they too see this as a chance to make real progress.

"Ground sharing with the Bees and setting up the Sporting Partnership at Damson Park will sustain both of us for the future and allow both of us to expand our sports development work," said Moors chairman Nigel Collins.

the Bees intend to keep their second ground just off the M42 at Portway, a facility that is home to their junior sections.