Plans to extend and renovate Newcastle United’s training ground have been approved. The Magpies aim for Darlsey Park includes 1,350 square metres of new-build accommodation, focusing on new office, meeting space and additional support facilities.
Newcastle United’s Benton HQ will also see existing buildings be rearranged to provide further treatment spaces and staff support areas, alongside improved front of house facilities and a bigger players’ lounge.
The Magpies have already injected £10million to the existing site which included a new canteen, auditorium, plunge pools and a games room but will now go a step further to improve their existing training ground.
Newcastle United training ground in Benton.placeholder image
Newcastle United training ground in Benton. | Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle/LDRS
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.”
Other proposals include the constriction of a groundkeeper’s shed and new parking bays in front of the extension. The site is used currently by 140 personnel, however the club has previously stated these numbers will not change in light of the application.
Photovoltaics (PV) have been combined on the roof of the new extension and areas of existing roof to offset electrical loads on the site.
The club previously stated that if the plans were approved then the building work would be completed by the summer of 2026.
At North Tyneside Council’s planning committee on Wednesday evening, some concerns were raised by neighbours about a historic lack of communication between the club and residents. Newcastle United’s representative at the meeting stated that contact details had now been swapped and a public meeting had been held to help reassure locals.
Representing the club, Ryan Robson said: “As a club and neighbour we want to be better. In the past we acknowledge it was not the best but hopefully there are conditions now in place.”
The plans were unanimously approved by the planning committee and will now go ahead.
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