A strategic land swap between Allanwater Homes and the Earl of Mar, who leases land to Alloa Rugby Club, has been tipped to deliver long-term benefits for sport and housing in Clackmannanshire.
The deal will provide Alloa RFC with two new pitches – one grass and one all-weather synthetic – while allowing Allanwater to continue the final phase of its Oaktree Gardens development.
Final markings and posts for the new grass pitch are due shortly. The all-weather pitch, expected to follow within the next two years, will offer year-round access for players of all ages.
Lauren McNair, development sales manager at Allanwater Homes, said, “Alloa Rugby Club sits at the heart of this community, and we’re proud to support its future. This land swap has been a real collaboration – with long-term benefits on both sides. The club will soon have modern facilities to train and compete all year round, and we’re able to progress our final phase at Oaktree Gardens, which has grown into a vibrant, established neighbourhood.
“We’ve been building in Alloa for over two decades. To us, community investment is about more than bricks and mortar – it’s about supporting the people and places that make these areas thrive.”
Alloa RFC president Alan Stewart added, “We’ve got a strong squad, great local support and now, thanks to this partnership, we’re on the verge of having the kind of facilities that will help us grow even further. The new pitches will make a huge difference – especially the synthetic surface, which means we won’t be at the mercy of winter weather. It’s a big step forward for our teams, coaches and the wider rugby community here in Alloa.”
The collaboration follows Allanwater Homes’ wider support for grassroots sport in the Hillfoots, including sponsorship of the Hillfoots Vixens, the local women’s rugby team based in Tillicoultry.
Now in its ninth and final phase, Allanwater’s Oaktree Gardens development offers a selection of three and four-bedroom homes. The housebuilder expects to remain on site for at least another two years.
