Leicester City will discover next week if they will be allowed to build a new £100 million training ground on a former golf and fishing complex.
The club want to create Europe’s best football training ground on the 185-acre site off the A46, eight miles north of Leicester.
First, however, City must get planning approval for their scheme from Charnwood Borough Council.
The authority’s planning committee meets on Thursday, October 11, to debate the proposals.
The council has had more than 170 objections to the proposal, which would see the training ground built on the old Park Hill Golf Course.
The Seagrave course closed in January.
Concerns include nearby residents’ fears about noise from cheering crowds at a planned 499-seat spectator pitch.
Worries have also been lodged about light pollution from floodlights and the impact of extra traffic on nearby rural roads.
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There are also concerns over vehicle movement at the busy junction of Park Hill Lane and the A46.
Despite these concerns, however, planning officers at the council have reviewed the club’s proposals and say they are acceptable.
They have advised councillors on the planning committee to approve the scheme.
What does the council say?
A Charnwood Borough Council planning report says: “It is acknowledged that there is significant local opposition to the scheme, and this must be taken into account appropriately when reaching a decision on the application.
“It should be noted that the applicant has developed the final proposal by considering those concerns and responding to them wherever possible.
“However, opposition to the proposal in principle should be considered in light of the fact it complies with development plan policies and replaces an existing leisure facility with a new, albeit larger, leisure facility."
What you need to know about City's £100m training ground plan
What is in the plan?
The club wants to build:
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A covered show pitch with 499 seats, spectator toilets and an elevated camera platform.
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12 full size football pitches
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Six part-size size grass pitches
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Two goalkeeper areas
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One attacking area
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Five warm-up and technical training areas
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A sports hall
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A training centre to be used by the first team and academy with hydrotherapy, medical , rehabilitation and dining facilities.
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It will also have education facilities, offices, 30 bedrooms for the players and management.
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Stores and its own power plant
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421 parking spaces with eight coach parking bays with disabled and electric car parking spaces.
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The UK’s first sports turf academy to train groundsmen
If it gets permission, the club will relocate from their current training ground in Belvoir Drive, Aylestone.