ARCADIS AYH plc is delighted to announce that the £6.5m construction of Princes Park, one of the most ecologically advanced sports stadiums in the country, has been completed and the first game in the new ground will be played on Saturday 11th November.

Dartford Borough Council funded the 4,100 capacity stadium which is acclaimed to be the finest stadium in non-league football because of its top quality sports facilities, innovative ecological advances and an array of hospitality and leisure features. Not only will it be a home for Dartford Football Club, the Kent Ravens Rugby League Club will also play home fixture there. The facility also provides a focus for the people of Dartford as the new grounds will also provide local community facilities.

ARCADIS AYH have acted as Project Manager, Cost Consultant, and Planning Supervisor throughout the project.  Princes Park features a living roof,state of the art part-synthetic playing surface third generation Astroturf training pitch and a super-efficient water recycling system.

Ian Smith, Board Director of ARCADIS AYH plc comments:

'ARCADIS AYH has and is working on other sustainable projects such as Woolwich Civic Centre and Queens University we were well aware that the incorporation of the sustainable elements provided a financial challenge to the project.  On the one side we had a 'not to exceed' budget, the other the Clients' wish to provide the first of a new breed of sustainable stadia. 

Paul Mitchell, Sector Director of ARCADIS AYH plc comments:

Often such measures have a higher initial Capital Cost, although the long term pay back can be quite short, this was probably the biggest financial challenge.  However the challenge led to some inspired solutions: the decision to retain all excavated material on site resulted in a considerable saving to the project whilst avoiding a significant volume of lorry movements and landfill. '

Princes Park Community Stadium sees Dartford Football Club return to the borough after a 14 year exile, the historic event will be celebrated by a special homecoming match against Horsham YMCA on Saturday 11 November. The match sold out within three weeks and includes live music, fireworks and street entertainment.
Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said:

"Our promise to bring The Darts home is just one of the ways we have set about restoring pride in our town and give local people the facilities they deserve. On Saturday 11 November we keep that promise with the opening of Princes Park – a magnificent new home for Dartford Football Club."

"Princes Park is quite simply the finest stadium in non-league football and we want it the experience to be right from the moment the first fan comes through the turnstiles.  This is a stadium in which the Darts can really flourish for years to come.

"I've visited the stadium and everyone who sees it is blown away by the quality and design.  Dartford residents deserve the best and think we are providing it."