Brentford FC Reveals Plans for New Training Facilities
Upgrade need to allow them to compete in European competitions
CGI of the proposed new facilities on Jersey Road. Picture: Brentford FC
Brentford Football Club (BFC0 has unveiled new plans for an upgrade of its training facilities in Jersey Road, Osterley.
Having gained promotion to the Premier League, the club wants to consolidate its position with facilities comparable to its rivals. As it now has ambitions to compete in European competitions, UEFA requires it to run an academy which it says it is under additional pressure to set up because of the extra difficulties of recruiting players from overseas after Brexit.
BFC has operated its training ground from the Jersey Road site for over 10 years. The pitches and facilities are located on an area of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) taking up approximately 50% of the entire site area. Existing vehicle and pedestrian access is via Jersey Road.
The club received planning permission for the redevelopment of the training ground in August 2020 following a unanimous planning committee approval in October 2019. This included the retention of the existing pavilion, a new one and two storey training building and additional parking. The Council considered that there existed very special circumstances to outweigh any harm to the MOL. No objections were raised by the GLA, Sport England or the Secretary of State. BFC now says these proposals were based upon the requirements of a Championship Club and did not include a Football Academy. Having reviewed the current scheme, the facilities are no longer deemed adequate.
CGI of entrance to planned training ground.
Brentford FC
The new proposals would see the demolition of the existing pavilion and temporary buildings and their replacement with a new high quality performance centre for the 1st Team, B Team and Women’s Team. This will involved the building of new facilities on MOL which is currently grassed.
There would be a full size covered pitch, a new full size external 4G pitch and floodlights for two outdoor pitches for all year-round training and community use. The site would need additional parking spaces to ensure that there is enough space for players, staff and visitors to Jersey Road without anyone needing to park on local roads.
It is also aiming to deliver the first ever Zero Carbon Premier League training ground facility and is looking at technologies and construction techniques to meet this ambition.
Overview of the proposals. Picture: Brentford FC
BFC are aiming for planning submission in spring 2022 with consideration of the proposal at a planning committee meeting in summer 2022. If approved then it would aim to start on site in spring 2023 with completion autumn 2024.
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December 10, 2021