Wayne Bridge might be content to sit on the Chelski bench rather than possibly come and play for Pompey, but we have received some fantastic news today – we have been granted planning permission for our new training ground at Lee-on-the-Solent.
These plans were unanimously approved by Gosport Borough Council’s planning committee and it is hoped that this will be completed in time for pre-season next year, woo hoo!
All we need now is the permission for a new stadium and we’re laughing, although to be honest I fully believe that the training ground is more important at this point in time.
Here is everything you need to know as announced on the Pompey Site…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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TRAINING GROUND GETS GO AHEAD
Pompey have been granted planning permission for their new training ground at Lee-on-the-Solent.
Gosport Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the proposals for the state-of-the-art facility on 35 acres of land in the Alver Valley.
Pompey hope to have the training ground open in time for the start of pre-season training in July next year.
Blues chief executive Peter Storrie heralded Tuesday night’s landmark decision which means the club will at last have a training ground of its own.
Storrie said: “This is a training ground any Premier League club would be proud of.
“It’s the next big step for the club – fantastic facilities in a lovely location.
“We’ve been improving the team no end as well as the facilities around the ground, with the new megastore and offices.
“But this training ground is one of the two final pieces in the jigsaw – the other is the new stadium.
“After the disappointment of the previous application at Fareham it’s been nice to have been involved with such a superb council like Gosport.
“They wanted us to be involved in their future and have given us nothing but support.
“It’s great that the training ground is in Gosport with a PO postcode – it keeps everything where we want it to be.”
Manager Harry Redknapp said: ‘This is fantastic news. The club desperately needed its own training ground to continue the progress we have made on the pitch over the last couple of seasons.
‘The plans for the pitches and the overall facilities look very impressive. It will make a great deal of difference to the players and to our ability to keep attracting the very best to the club.’
The site will house 10 full-size pitches, two mini soccer pitches, a three-quarter-size pitch and a dedicated goalkeeping area.
The club’s main building has been designed by Richard Marshall, the architect behind Arsenal’s London Colney training base.
The 18,000 sq ft building will accommodate changing rooms, medical and rehabilitation facilities, a gymnasium, administration offices, a media and presentation area and a refectory.
There will also be a three-quarter-size indoor pitch for the club’s Academy, who will have their own separate building.
The club will continue to use the Wellington Sports Ground at Eastleigh, where they currently train.
As part of the scheme, Portsmouth FC will dedicate two full-size pitches for community use and open up the indoor facility for local schools in the borough of Gosport.
The club plans to work with Gosport Borough Council to enable development and sustainability of the neighbouring Alver Valley Country Park.
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