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Ipswich Town training ground upgrade approved

Martin Heath
BBC News, Suffolk
Ipswich Town Football Club Modern brown two-storey building with glass entrance frontage. There is a logo on the side of the building featuring a Suffolk punch horse with a football. There are small stone circles on the ground. The existing indoor dome is visible to the right, behind a tree and hedge.Ipswich Town Football Club
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".

Ipswich Town Football Club Roadway onto site, with pavement and large "Ipswich Town Football Club" sign. There are trees and a hedge lining the route into the training ground. A security gatehouse is visible by the gate to the left of the picture.Ipswich Town Football Club
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.

Google Existing entrance to the training ground, showing blue gates, the right hand one of which says "Town FC". There is also a barrier which has lifted to admit a grey car. There are alongside the gates. There is a brick single-storey building in the distance.Google
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."

Ipswich Town Football Club Artist's impression of two-storey modern building with glass frontage to the left and glass windows on the first floor. There is a grass pitch in the foreground, with a centre circle. Two people are pictured on the pitch.Ipswich Town Football Club
The chairman said the project would help the club attract and retain elite players
PA Media Mark Ashton with short dark hair and beard wearing a blue waistcoat, white shirt and blue tie. He is smiling a clapping. There are cheering football fans behind him.PA Media
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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