Albion want more pitches on land designated for homes

An artist's impression of the Brighton and Hove Albion training ground in Lancing An artist's impression of the Brighton and Hove Albion training ground in Lancing

Brighton and Hove Albion wants to add three more pitches to its new state-of-the-art training ground to keep the grass up to scratch.

The club has submitted a planning application to Adur District Council for the extra full-size pitches at the club’s proposed £22 million Lancing training facility.

Club director Martin Perry said the additional pitches would cost about £1.5 million extra and would reduce the wear and tear on the other pitches.

The new pitches, including one grass and two all-weather 3G surfaces, with one set aside with priority for community use, will add to the 11 already included in the original plans.

The pitches would go on a piece of land owned by golf course firm New Monks Farm Development which the club has the option to buy if planning permission is granted.

The additional pitches would be completed along with the rest of the training ground in time for pre-season training in 2014.

Public support

Mr Perry said: “When we purchased the land from Adur District Council, it wasn’t quite big enough for the number of pitches that we need.

“This allows us a greater rotation of use for the pitches and allows for less wear and tear.”

Ann Bridges, the leader of Lancing Parish Council, said: “The land is designated for up to 600 homes in the Adur Plan and people don’t want to see those homes being built – they would rather see pitches.

“I was told by Martin Perry that one of the pitches would be for community use and I think most young people would be delighted to use a pitch adjacent to the Albion pitches.”

Work on developing an access road from the worksite along Mash Barn Lane is continuing and it is hoped that work on the training ground will begin in early April.

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Comments(13)

dawind says...
2:39pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Last week, during a piece (TV) about Swansea FC, I learn't that the local economy had benefited to the sum of £58 million in their first season in the Premier League.
Support your local economy,
Support the Seagulls!

7Rookie says...
2:42pm Fri 1 Mar 13

500k per pitch, blimey. Fair to say that the training ground is going to be top notch

RottingdeanRant says...
5:40pm Fri 1 Mar 13

I feel really sorry for the people that live nearby as this development will wreck there area.

fredaj says...
7:35pm Fri 1 Mar 13

RottingdeanRant wrote:
I feel really sorry for the people that live nearby as this development will wreck there area.
Wreck the area how? The area is waste land, next to the airport.

Cogidubnus says...
8:25pm Fri 1 Mar 13

"Wreck the area how? The area is waste land, next to the airport."

It's right behind a lot of folk's houses, on land that's been seen as something of an amenity for years...If the Albion are so hell bent on building training facilities on wasted land, what's wrong with Hollingbury Golf Course or Preston Park?

Or would that be seen as doing it on their own doorstep, rather than someone elses?

HJarrs says...
10:45pm Fri 1 Mar 13

14 pitches...that is nearly one each for first team and subs!

HJarrs says...
10:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13

dawind wrote:
Last week, during a piece (TV) about Swansea FC, I learn't that the local economy had benefited to the sum of £58 million in their first season in the Premier League.
Support your local economy,
Support the Seagulls!
I am always suspicious of the benefit that clubs bring to the local economy. I am sure it is positive for some but, many premier league clubs are located in areas that are still quite poor. It would seem to me that there is benefit if the players live in and spend their money in the local community as they are often responsible for 80% of a club's revenue.

rolivan says...
12:54am Sat 2 Mar 13

This Land isn't very far away from a part of the A27 that seems to be prone to flooding.If you know the area it looks like a possible flood plain I think the Golf course and Training complex rather than building houses and a few years later residents facing flooding problems

rolivan says...
12:56am Sat 2 Mar 13

This Land isn't very far away from a part of the A27 that seems to be prone to flooding.If you know the area it looks like a possible flood plain I think the Golf course and Training complex rather than building houses and a few years later residents facing flooding problems

Plantpot says...
9:44am Sat 2 Mar 13

HJarrs wrote:
dawind wrote:
Last week, during a piece (TV) about Swansea FC, I learn't that the local economy had benefited to the sum of £58 million in their first season in the Premier League.
Support your local economy,
Support the Seagulls!
I am always suspicious of the benefit that clubs bring to the local economy. I am sure it is positive for some but, many premier league clubs are located in areas that are still quite poor. It would seem to me that there is benefit if the players live in and spend their money in the local community as they are often responsible for 80% of a club's revenue.
Would love to see how this has been worked out. Clubs generally pay a huge percentage of their income on player salaries (they aren't wages). Other income for the area comes from what? Spending on hospitality? Jobs are mainly seasonal, part time, low wage. Football exists to make money for itself, end of.

Hovite says...
11:12am Sat 2 Mar 13

RottingdeanRant wrote:
I feel really sorry for the people that live nearby as this development will wreck there area.
If you read the story you would see that this is supported by the residents in the area.

The alternative plan is for 600 homes.

Green grassy football pitches or concrete and bricks?

Save your rant for Rottingdean

made up says...
12:29pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I'd rather have extra pitches than extra houses. It impacts me as I live nearby. At least the pitches will have opening an closing times unlike another housing estate with traffic an noise 24/7.

VegasSeagull says...
2:35pm Sat 2 Mar 13

The training facility is all part of what is needed to have a successful club and successful clubs creates jobs in and around the club.

The total revenue the city earns from having Brighton within it's boudries is immense, those that object tot his expansion of the facility probably have zero interest in football or B.H.A.

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