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21 Sep
Land deal secures future of Fishburn Park Football Club
Keyland Developments gifts three acres of land to long-standing Whitby community football club.
The future of Fishburn Park Football Club has been secured after Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, gifted three acres of land off Stainsacre Lane in Whitby to the club.
The land, which sits adjacent to the wider 24 acre Broomfields Farm development, has been used by Fishburn Park FC for many years as a long-standing tenant. Keyland first met with representatives of the club in 2020 to discuss its plans for residential development on what became Phase 1 of the Broomfields Farm site. That land was subsequently sold to Barratt Homes in 2021.
The company later returned to the club to discuss plans for the neighbouring site, formerly known as Phase 2. This was sold to Brierley Homes earlier this year and is being developed to deliver 49 affordable, low-carbon homes following the grant of detailed planning permission.
Throughout the planning and development process, Fishburn Park FC has been supportive of Keyland’s plans, recognising the wider benefits that new housing and investment could bring to the area. Following the successful delivery of the two phases, Keyland decided that gifting the additional land to the football club was an appropriate way to give something back to the organisation and the wider community it serves.
The gift recognises the club’s long-standing presence in the area and the important role it plays in the local community. The club, which provides football for players across a range of age groups as well as men’s and women’s teams, will take ownership of the land ahead of its 80th anniversary celebrations next year.
Mark Burnett (Chairman, Fishburn Park FC), Peter Garrett (Managing Director, Keyland), Allan Burnett (President, Fishburn Park FC) and Catherine Cairns (Land & Development Manager, Keyland).
Fishburn Park has been part of this community for generations and to have the security of our own land as we approach our 80th anniversary is something we are incredibly proud of. I don’t think any other club in town owns their own pitch, so this is fantastic for us.
Keyland has worked with us throughout the development of the Broomfields Farm site and has always recognised that the football club is about more than just football. We provide a place for people to come together, for young people to play sport and for families to be part of something local. This is a fantastic gesture from Keyland and one that will make a real difference to the future of the club. We are very grateful and are looking forward to celebrating our 80th anniversary knowing that the club has a secure future.
Allan Burnett, President of Fishburn Park FC
We have had a close relationship with the club for many years. They have been extremely supportive throughout the development process and have understood the benefits that bringing new homes and investment to the area can bring.
Once the two phases of development had been successfully delivered, we felt it was important to give something back. We hope it gives Fishburn Park FC the security it needs for the future and helps it continue the work it does in the community for many years to come.
Catherine Cairns, Land and Development Manager at Keyland Developments
Keyland has been operating across Yorkshire for more than 30 years, regenerating redundant Yorkshire Water sites and bringing forward land for new uses. The business also works with independent landowners, corporates and regulated bodies to overcome obstacles to development on strategic sites and secure planning consent for future use.
The Broomfields Farm site forms part of a wider 24-acre former Yorkshire Water site on Stainsacre Lane, connecting Whitby and Scarborough. Planning permission was granted by North Yorkshire Council for up to 290 homes across the wider site.
Phase 1 was sold to Barratt Homes in 2021 and subsequently completed, while Phase 2 was sold by Keyland to Brierley Homes in February 2026. The second phase will deliver 49 affordable homes, with the development supported by £2.6 million of Government Towns funding secured by Keyland through the Whitby Town Deal Board.