Proposals for a Premier League-quality training facility for Preston North End have been lodged.

The club wants to build on part of the current Ingol Golf and Squash club for the new state-of-the-art complex.

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Currently the Lilywhites train at Springfields off Dodney Drive in Lea but want the new facility to be open for the 2018 season.

The training complex would form part of a wider plan for the golf course which includes the building of 450 new homes.

PNE’s Academy would stay at Springfields but the club says it needs the relocation of the training pitches to ‘support PNE’s aspirations and ambitions to play at the highest tier of English league football.”

Savick Brook means the current Springfields training ground cannot be developed on.

The land for the PNE training complex would run alongside the West Coast main line on the western edge of the site.

Read more: Take a tour of PNE’s new training ground

Plans for the training ground show it would include:
– dining and relaxation room
– gym with treatment rooms

– changing rooms with connected showers, toilets, ice bath and jacuzzi

– additional changing rooms for visitors, officials and coaches
– boot room, laundy room, kit room and equipment storage
– match analysis and team meeting room
– managers and assistant managers office
– coaches and analytical staff office
– indoor artificial grass pitch
– two grass five-a-side training pitches
– floodlit main full-size hybrid training pitch

– full size grass training pitch
– two grass training pitches
– one kilometre trail and cycle track

Space for up to 40 cars would be accommodated in a car park and the site would have a 2.4metre high perimeter fence around it with a gate house providing access.

Access to the site will be via Boys Lane/Walker Lane and the complex would be built on holes 12,13, 14 and 15 of the current golf course – owned by PNE owner Trevor Hemmings.

A spokesman for the club said: “As part of the planning for the proposed development, PNE are keen to consult on the scheme in order to allow members of the public to view the proposals and provide feedback and comments.

The intention is for the first team to be training at the facility in time for the 2018/19 season and therefore being occupied in August 2018. As such, construction is targeted to be commenced on site as soon as possible.”

Read more: The long-running planning battle to build homes on Ingol golf course

Full plans have been tabled to Preston City Council and can be viewed on the city council website or in the Sir Tom Finney Stand reception at Deepdale. Any comments about the development can be left on the city council website.

Until Saturday 11 March you can visit the stand from 10am to 1pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to view a 3D model and provide any comments.

Do you live in the area? Are you a PNE fan? What do you make of the proposal? Let us know in the comments below

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