LFC unveils £50m training ground move

Liverpool FC and Knowsley Council have announced joint plans for a £50m redevelopment of the club’s academy in Kirkby including relocating first team training from Melwood which will be sold for housing.

LFC plans to bring its first team and academy football training operations and facilities together on one site under the plans by London-based KSS Architects.

The £50m proposal includes the construction of a new combined training centre, the redevelopment of the existing facilities at the academy and designs to convert the main pitch into an indoor pitch.

The club said the existing training ground at Melwood, in West Derby is not big enough to accommodate modern training facilities. The land to be sold could accommodate 160 family houses.

The council is leading on proposals to provide new and improved football pitches and sports facilities to the area, working with local football teams including Kirkby AFC.

Under the agreement with the council, LFC will purchase additional land next to the academy site and close part of Moss Lane between Simonswood Lane and Arbour Lane.

Andy Hughes, chief operating officer, Liverpool Football Club, said: “Our proposed plans to bring the First Team and young players together in one location is a really exciting proposition. The scheme includes state-of-the-art facilities which will be used to support the development of our players and provides all-weather training options. We are also working closely with Knowsley Council on plans to make substantial improvements for the local community. These include new and improved football pitches and sports facilities to support grass roots and amateur football teams, and developments to the surrounding areas for local residents. We recognise that Melwood has played a significant role in the Club’s success and forms an important part of our history. However, the Melwood site is limited in space and is unable to accommodate our longer term ambitions which is why we are exploring options on the Academy site. We are encouraging our neighbours and local residents in Kirkby to attend to the public consultation to see the proposals first hand.”

  • For more information on the proposed Kirkby and Melwood redevelopments, visit: http://www.simonswoodlaneconsultation.co.uk and http://www.melwoodconsultation.co.uk.
  • A public consultation event will be held on 8 March 2017 at Northwood Community Centre Gilescroft Avenue, Northwood, Kirkby, L33 9TW from 2pm – 8pm and will be open to local residents and the wider community. Residents will have the opportunity to view the proposed plans, speak with members of the project team and leave their feedback.

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