Football training centre plans set for approval

Plans for a multimillion-pound "state-of-the-art" football training centre in South Yorkshire have been recommended for approval, despite some opposition.

The Doncaster City Elite Training Centre in Bawtry would provide training facilities and accommodation for professional football teams, according to a planning application.

Officers from City of Doncaster Council said the proposals, put forward by former football agent Willie McKay, had demonstrated "very special circumstances" which "clearly outweigh" any harm it would cause.

The plans have divided opinion since they were first unveiled in 2023, with the submitted application receiving 39 endorsements and 35 objections.

If approved at a meeting on Tuesday, the site on land near Martin Grange Farm would consist of five full-size pitches, including a show pitch with a 499-capacity stand.

It would also feature an indoor pitch, goalkeeper training areas, padel courts and accommodation for up to three teams at any one time.

In his application, McKay said the "unique" facility would be fit to host the biggest clubs in the world for training camps or bases while they played fixtures in England.

According to the planning document, the site would be split into an "elite training hub" with five-star facilities and a "professional hub" for other teams further down the pyramid.

The facilities would also be available for public use, it added.

Those in favour of the development included several professional football clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.

Doncaster Chamber of Commerce championed the plans, along with local MP Lee Pitcher, who described them as a "fantastic opportunity for our constituency".

Opponents expressed concern over developing on green belt land and the training centre's proximity to existing homes.

A neighbour also criticised a large-scale development being built in a quiet, rural setting, significantly altering its character.

In response, council officers said the facility would "safeguard a reasonable standard of amenity" for those living nearby.

They said the scheme "presents a coherent development that offers Doncaster a unique opportunity to host a high-quality elite sports facility".

Officers also praised its "significant economic benefits", recommending approval subject to several conditions.

They include a legal agreement to guarantee a minimum of 40 hours per week for community access to a full-size 3G pitch, a local employment plan and a £45,000 payment towards upgrades to bus stops as part of traffic management arrangements.

McKay previously said the facility could be up and running within 12 months of permission being granted.

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