Highfields Sports Club - Complete Football

Complete Football Development

£3M football development centre could be coming to the city.

Complete Football has asked the city council for permission to build at the Highfields Sports Ground, off University Boulevard.

The firm wants to create a floodlit all-weather football pitch and six five-a-side courts, as well as a clubhouse with treatment rooms, rehabilitation facilities and a bar.

The firm said the pitches would be available for hire to local teams; schools would have free use from 9am to 4pm on weekdays.

The application said: "As part of Complete Football's commitment to the local community, all state schools in Nottingham will be entitled to use the facilities free of charge

"The football development officer will work with the local education authority to produce a timescale of use for each school.

"Schools will have an option to utilise a member of the coaching staff to assist in the delivery of quality coaching to children."

The site of the proposed development is behind the all-weather hockey pitches run by Highfields Sports Club.

Under a deal agreed with Nottingham City Council, Complete Football would be offered a 125-year lease on the land.

It would work with the Highfields Sports Club to manage the whole site for football and hockey.

The Highfields Sports Club took a 30-year lease on the hockey pitches and existing clubhouse in 2000.

The land behind the hockey pitches is not used for organised sports.

Highfields Park, which is located on the opposite side of University Boulevard, is also in need of investment.

Both sites, the park and the sports ground, are administered by the Highfields Leisure Park Trust. The city council is the trustee of the site.

As a result, the authority said that it saw the current proposals as a potential solution.

Management of the sports facilities by Complete Football could bring them back up to a high standard and secure their future, it said.

In addition, the lease could generate an income for the Highfields Leisure Park Trust and enable much-needed investment in the lake and play facilities at Highfields Park.

The council estimated the investment available could be £1m.

A city council report, due to be discussed at a meeting of the Wollaton and Lenton Abbey area committee on Thursday January 7, stated: "Highfields Sports Club and Complete Football have approached the council with an offer to take over the management and development of the entire Highfields Sports Ground site.

"In return the city council will receive investment into the site of just over £3m.

"The new football facilities being provided will enable free access to schools and community groups. Through the proposal, Complete Football will undertake the grounds maintenance element of the sports ground.

"[This will] enable the existing grounds maintenance of that site to be refocused upon Highfields Park."

A further element in the deal would allow Notts County continued use of training pitches at Beeston Sidings, which is within the sports ground.

When the lease expires in two to three years the management of the pitches will transfer them to Complete Football, which will let them to local teams on behalf of Nottingham City Council.