Ebbsfleet United chief executive Damian Irvine says significance of planning permission for Northfleet Harbourside project including club’s new 8,000 capacity stadium cannot be overstated and eyes 2028 opening

Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine heralded “a great day for the club” after outline planning permission for the Northfleet Harbourside project was given the green light.

The ambitious plans to develop the area in and around the Fleet’s current Stonebridge Road ground include a new 8,000 capacity multi-purpose stadium alongside facilities that will help the club become sustainable in the long term.

It’s already been years in the making - and there’s much more work ahead - but Mr Irvine couldn’t have been happier with the decision.

“This is a massive moment in the club’s history and that’s not to overstate it,” he said.

“It’s been over two-and-a-half years of hard work to rationalise and evaluate all the previous property plans the club has had and put in place something that is comprehensive and really does set the club up for the future.

“It’s equally as massive for the Gravesham Borough Council area and the Northfleet locals, they’re our people and are the people that have been Gravesend and Northfleet forever. It’s an area that’s been underinvested in and it needs it, it needs it desperately for the future.

“The football club has been able to be the catalyst and a community lead in attracting this level of investment. It’s a great day for the club.”

The proposals also cater for commercial offices, new homes, a hotel and food and beverage outlets.

The football club is a shareholder in the project - and that’s key to the Fleet’s long-term future.

“It's 50 acres in total and the development is a genuine precinct so if you split it into three, the football club is a third of it,” explained Mr Irvine.

“It’s designed in a way that it’s not just a football stadium that is stuck in the middle of something and is isolated