Work starts on Leicester City’s £80m training base

Work has started on Leicester City’s new £80m training ground in Charnwood.McLaren Construction has been named as the principal contractor for the project at the former 18-hole Park Hill Golf and Fishing Centre which is located between the villages of Seagrave and Thrussington in Leicestershire.Permission for the 185-acre site was granted by Charnwood Borough Council in October 2018.The project, which will include ten full-size grass pitches, one external artificial pitch and one indoor artificial pitch, is scheduled to be completed in June 2020.It will also feature six part-size grass pitches and two part-sized artificial caged pitches.The plan includes a four-court sports hall, a training centre for use by the club’s first team and academy providing changing, training, sports science and medical facilities alongside management offices and 30 accommodation rooms for players and a covered show pitch stand with 499 seats.The former Premier League champions have been based in Belvoir Drive in Leicester since 1963.The plan was drawn up by London-based KSS Design Group which has previously worked on projects for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur FC, Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Liverpool FC and England Rugby.The scheme also includes room for a nine-hole golf course at the Park Hill Lane site.Overall the new training centre will include:11 full-size pitches including a 499-seater mini-venue show pitchEight smaller pitches, five training grids and two goalkeeping areasFull-size artificial indoor pitch35 bedrooms of on-site accommodationRehabilitation facilities and hydrotherapy poolTraining centre building including dining areas, administration offices and media centreSports turf academy for the development of the next generation of grounds staffThe club’s current base in LeicesterAccording to documents submitted to Charnwood Borough Council, the buildings will have a total of 264,512 sq ft internal floor space, 301 extra car parking spaces and there will be full-time employment for 93 people.The club, who have said they want to create the best training ground in Europe, confirmed plans for the new centre in January 2018.