An application to refurbish and extend Darsley Park will be decided by North Tyneside councillors next week
Newcastle United training ground on Whitley Park, North Tyneside.
Newcastle United training ground on Whitley Park, North Tyneside. (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Plans to revamp Newcastle United’s Benton training ground have been lodged. NUFC’s application calls for new office space, improved media zone and facilities.
According to planning documents submitted to North Tyneside Council, the proposals include the refurbishment and expansion of existing training facilities at Darlsey Park, including the addition of a 1,350sqm office, meeting and support space. The current building, pending council approval, will be reorganised to provide more therapy and staff support, alongside a larger player’s lounge.
The club’s design statement, which forms part of the original application, goes on to state: “The proposal improves space planning and provides better facilities enabling the removal of low quality external temporary buildings.” The revamp has been recommended for approval by council officers.
In an earlier statement in April, the club stated that the site is currently used by 140 people but the proposed plans would see staff and visitor numbers remain unchanged. The previous statement also claimed the club continues to look for a new future training site.
The council’s own planning report states: “The principle of the proposed development is acceptable as it will not result in the loss of any usable open space. The design and layout of the proposed development will not have a significant adverse impact upon the residential amenity of neighbouring properties.”
North Tyneside Council’s planning committee will gather on August 20 at 6pm to consider NUFC’s application. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the local authority’s Cobalt Business Park HQ.
If the plans are approved, the work is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.
Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.