THE timetable has been revealed for construction of Accrington Stanley’s new community sports hub at Higham Playing Fields.

Readstone Construction has been appointed by Accrington Stanley Community Trust to carry out the project, with enabling works set to begin at the end of March.

Full construction is scheduled to begin in mid April and is expected to take 32 weeks to complete.

If the project remains on schedule, the new sports hub, including office space, classrooms, gym, and changing facilities with a small café should be finished by the middle of December.

A 4G football pitch will also be created to the east of the building with perimeter fencing included.

In April 2017, ASCT 's development on Higham Playing Fields in the town was approved by the national body responsible for playing fields.

Consent was given by Fields in Trust despite strong local opposition including a 2,500 signature online petition opposing the project.

The scheme, given planning permission in December 2017, features a new multi-use community building, fencing and lighting, a 75 space car park, and the creation of 3G pitches.

These include a full size floodlit artificial football pitch, three renovated grass pitches, a new ECB approved artificial cricket wicket.

Last year, council bosses approved proposals to give ASCT use of Higham Playing Fields for free for five years under the terms of a 30-year lease.

The trust plans to invest £2million in the fields turning it into a community sports hub and council bosses said as ASCT is a charitable organisation, Higham Playing Fields is leased to them for £1,000 per year, with the first five years free due to the scale of investment.