Dorking Wanderers' Meadowbank stadium upgrade approved

The Mole Valley club had already erected the four-row seating section in the northern corner of its Meadowbank Ground, in Dorking and it has been used since April 2025 – giving spectators a better view of games.

The club’s planning application was submitted retrospectively and granted at the February development management committee of Mole Valley District Council.

The tiered 100-seater stand will not increase the club’s 4,121 capacity but will instead upgrade facilities for fans who previously had to stand pitch side.

Objectors had raised concerns over potential for increased noise and disturbances but officers said an October 2025 site visit found the sound-damping fences and newly planted trees would mitigate such issues – and that the stand would not impact maximum attendances.

Mole Valley’s environmental health team said the stand would have a negligible increase and no material change in terms of noise impacts on match days.

Officers told the meeting the new stand, which can be folded away as needed “would not increase spectator numbers, though the arrangements for spectators would differ to the current arrangement with the three-tier seating area instead of ground level standing.”

She added: “It would enhance the facilities at this established community ground and support the continued success of Dorking Wanderers.

The application was voted through without any opposing votes after councillors heard the stand was already in place and that the only objections raised had been covered.

There have been a number of upgrades to the ground in recent years, with the new part-covered terrace on the western end being approved in 2022, together with LED floodlighting, new TV additional turnstiles and an enlarged fanzone.

The new western terrace was built after the club was promoted to the National League to meet entry requirements.