Ipswich Town training ground upgrade approved

The project includes a new "state of the art" first team building and better facilities for the Academy and ITFC Women's squad

A plan to upgrade Ipswich Town's Playford Road training ground has been approved.

The project will cost about £30m and is likely to take 14 months.

It includes a new first team building and better facilities for the Academy and the women's teams.

The club's chief executive, Mark Ashton, said he wanted to "break ground as quickly as possible now".

The Blues' training ground in Playford Road, on the edge of town in Rushmere St Andrew, opened in 2001.

Following the first team's promotion to the Premier League, the chairman and Mr Ashton said the club needed "a multi-million pound spend on the facilities at the training ground to bring us up to speed".

The development includes an "enhanced secure main entrance"

An application was submitted to East Suffolk Council in November for a new "state-of-the-art" first team building, extended Academy facilities and an improved entrance.

The chairman said the club needed to spend millions of pounds upgrading the existing facility

In the planning application, the club said the position of buildings and pitches would "minimise impact on adjacent residents".

Mr Ashton was "delighted to have these works approved and we are grateful for everyone's support".

"Developing our training facilities is something we have spoken about since day one at the club," he said.

"To continue the club's progress we need to attract, retain and develop elite players. We need first-class facilities to do that."

The chairman said the project would help the club attract and retain elite players

The chairman and chief executive, Mark Ashton, said he was "delighted" the plans had been approved

Mr Ashton added: "With development of the training ground being a key pillar of progression for the club, this substantial investment will enhance our facilities and environment for our first-team, Academy and women's players, and will be key to the delivery of Category One status for our Academy."

He said he wanted construction work to start "as quickly as possible".

Town's Premier League match at home to Nottingham Forest kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.

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