Jeanfield Swifts Community FC (Scio) has welcomed the decision by Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee to grant planning permission for its Riverside25 project – a major step forward in securing a permanent home for the club and its community in North Muirton.

The approval allows construction to begin on phase one of the £2.5m redevelopment of Riverside Stadium, with the project remaining on track for a proposed opening in September 2026.

The charity exists to advance participation in sport, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen community connection through football. Riverside25 plays a central role in delivering that purpose by bringing all sections of the club together on one site for the first time and providing facilities that match the scale and ambition of its activity.

From children as young as five taking their first steps in the game to adult players, coaches and volunteers well into later life, hundreds of participants already benefit each week from the fitness, teamwork and sense of belonging that football provides. The upgraded stadium will give every team – from ages 5 to 65 – a permanent home and a high-quality environment to train, play and develop. The charity is delighted to be making real progress on its vision to provide all participants with the facilities they deserve.

The planning application received strong backing from a wide range of partners, including funders such as the Scottish Football Association, Perth & Kinross Council, the Gannochy Trust, Jeanfield Swifts FC Endowment Trust and NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, as well as local organisations including Your North Muirton and North Muirton Community Council.

Committee members also heard from local residents who raised understandable concerns around matchday parking and noise. The charity welcomed this engagement and demonstrated its commitment to working constructively with neighbours to minimise disruption. Trustees appreciated the open discussion at the meeting and are grateful to committee members for their support of Swifts’ community objectives, as well as their pragmatic approach in agreeing conditions – including matchday car park stewarding – to address local concerns.

Alongside its core football programme, the upgraded Riverside Stadium will provide a long-term base for the charity’s wider community outreach work, which uses football to achieve clear and evidenced social outcomes. These programmes support mental wellbeing and inclusion through the Welcome League for asylum seekers and refugees, promote physical health and equality through Women’s Walking Football for over‑40s, and improve confidence, skills and employability through coaching and leadership awards delivered to local school pupils.

Regular open-door sessions for free community use will also be provided, significantly exceeding the access standards set by the SFA for comparable funded community facilities.

For Jeanfield Swifts Community FC, the Riverside25 approval represents more than bricks and mortar – it is a decisive step toward a shared home that supports football, opportunity and community life for years to come.