WORK has started on £4.6million worth of improvements to Burnley’s Gawthorpe training complex after full planning permission for the work was granted.

The club had sought permission for a new 73,000 sq metre training centre which will provide a significant upgrade to the facilities already at Gawthorpe and will house the first team, development squad and youth team under one roof for the first time.

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Crucially the work will also raise the standard of the facility to meet the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) Category 1 and 2 standard, which will allow the Clarets to attract a better standard of youngsters to the club and command larger fees for any who leave for other clubs.

Me, stadium and operations manager, said the development was an ‘exciting’ period for the club.

“We are delighted we have now managed to get to this stage, where we can see some physical activity on the site.” he said.

“We are excited and looking forward to seeing the site develop over the coming weeks and months, cumulating in what we all believe will be a huge part of the strategic development of the club.”

Barnfield Construction will work closely with pitch contractors J Mallinson of Ormskirk to develop additional playing surfaces across the site.

The build will also include an indoor all-weather area with a small spectator gallery, to meet the requirements of EPPP.

Outside, plans include the development of three full-sized training pitches. For youth team players, in addition to the current match pitch and four mini-pitches, there will be a further two three-quarter size pitches.

A new car park built north of the river, accessed via a refurbished bridge over the River Calder, will ease the pressure on the National Trust Car park close to Gawthorpe Hall, especially at peak times.

On the south side of the river, the existing ‘top pitch’ is to be floodlit.

Tim Webber, chairman and managing director of the Barnfield Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering the new £4.6 million training facility for Burnley Football Club.

“With our head office being based locally to the club we have a large amount of Clarets fans within Barnfield who are looking forward to helping to create what promises to be a first class facility.”

Burnley boss Sean Dyche, speaking after planning permission for the work had been submitted, said: “This would be a big step forward.

“The way football is going at any level the importance of facilities has grown radically throughout my career and into coaching and management.

“I don’t know the official stat but 90 or 95 per cent of a player’s professional life is at the training ground so it’s important the facilities are right.

“There has to be a base beyond just what’s going on with the immediacy, which is of course very important.

“The club’s been here for forever it seems and it needs to go on forever.”