Albion training ground gets the go-ahead

A new training centre will be built for West Bromwich Albion after plans were given the go-ahead despite opposition from neighbours.

Members of Walsall Council's planning committee unanimously backed the scheme, which includes creating an artificial floodlit pitch and larger indoor facilities at the existing training ground, last night.

They acknowledged the complaints from those nearby residents who had signed a 23-name petition and nine letters of objection against the scheme on green belt land at the site in Birmingham Road, Great Barr.

But Mark Miles, speaking at the meeting on behalf of the football club, said the new centre would not make matters worse for neighbours.

"We have obviously put a significant amount of resources into this," he said.

"It wouldn't see the noise created from the site being any different to what it is now."

He added that the improvements would boost the club's youth academy system.

"We are an elite sports club and these facilities are designed for elite sportsmen," he said.

"We have already had a number of the players from our academy go on to represent their country at national level and we hope that approval for this application will ensure there will be many more over the years to come."

The 45-acre site has nine outdoor grass pitches and a single-storey pavilion which will be extended. An artificial floodlit pitch with eight 15-metre high floodlights is proposed with an indoor training pitch. Work is also planned on a gatehouse and security fencing, while parking will be increased.

Bosses at the Albion believe the redevelopment could boost the bid to bring thousands of international football fans to the region.

It is hoped the new training base, alongside Albion's £1.7 million indoor training centre at the Tom Silk Buildings near The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, can help the Baggies secure a role as a training camp should England win the bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

All the Midlands' major clubs have pledged their support and are bidding to host public and private training sessions with international stars, and with matches to be staged at Villa Park.

Among those who complained was Edna Sutton, aged 76, of Birmingham Road, who said: "People park in front of my house to drop off friends at the ground.

I don't want any floodlights up or the ground made any bigger. It will look even uglier. It just looks like a large Meccano set."