West Lothian’s only Scottish Premiership side have guaranteed the future of one of the county’s pioneering football clubs – and boost both teams.
Livingston FC’s plan to lease Pumpherston Juniors’ ground is a home win for both teams bringing new training facilities and ground improvements.
The 30-year deal will also generate £10,000 a year for West Lothian Council coffers.
A meeting of the Executive backed a joint plan put forward by both clubs.
Pumpherston Juniors Football Club (PJFC) – originally founded in 1896 – leased their football ground at Drumshoreland Place in the village from the council under a Community Benefit ground lease that was due to run until 31 March 2041.
The facilities include an 11-a-side grass pitch, a small sports court with a synthetic surface, changing facilities and car parking. Pumpherston currently plays in the East of Scotland pyramid system.
The proposals mean PJFC renounces their existing Community Benefit lease and a new thirty-year commercial lease of the facilities granted in favour of Livingston.
Livingston will undertake significant capital investment in the facilities at the football ground, replacing the existing grass pitch with a new 3G pitch, as well as installing new flood lighting and providing modern changing facilities.
The works will be fully funded by Livingston and significantly improve and modernise facilities.
The deal gives Livingston a dedicated training facility for their first team, women’s team, reserves team, along with their nine affiliated clubs.
Livingston also have a Scottish Football Association (SFA) requirement to convert the existing synthetic playing surface at the Almondvale Stadium to grass ahead of the 2026/27 season and the proposed new lease would ensure they continue to have access to training facilities during the new pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium.
If Livingston do not have access to alternative training facilities during the pitch installation works at Almondvale Stadium, they would be unable to install that new pitch, which is an SFA requirement should Livingston secure promotion back into the Scottish Premiership.
Livingston explored the provision of training facilities in and around the footprint of Almondvale Stadium just north of the new town’s shopping centre but could find no viable solution because of the physical restrictions of the property.
Pumpherston will retain access to their facilities to fulfil their home fixtures and training sessions at no cost to the club.
Scott Hughes, the council’s Strategic Property Asset Manager told councillors the new deal will see an annual rental income of £10,000 from Livingston FC with a rent review every five years from the date of entry reflecting an upward only open market value.
He added: “It is considered to be in the council’s best interests for the existing lease to PJFC to be renounced, for a new thirty-year lease to be granted to Livingston and for delegate authority to be granted to the Director of Finance and Property Services to negotiate and agree any further terms and conditions on the basis that any revised terms continue to represent the achievement of Best Value for the council.”
By Stuart Sommerville. Local Democracy Reporter
