We will be able to offer state-of-the-art facilities for our players, staff and for our academy which will bring long-term benefits to Charlton and the development of our players, says owner Roland Duchâtelet

CHARLTON ATHLETIC have received the green light for a new training ground complex at Sparrows Lane, following a planning meeting at Woolwich Town Hall on last night.

Greenwich Council approved the Championship club’s plans for a total overhaul of the club’s facilities in New Eltham which will include a brand new three-storey building and complete renovation of pitches to provide both natural and synthetic surfaces for the club’s players at all levels.

The club has worked alongside neighbouring University of Greenwich and Footscray Rugby Club on plans for the new training ground, with new 3G all-weather playing surfaces ready for completion as early as mid-October.

Construction on the new main building is set to begin in April with a completion date scheduled for the Summer of 2017 in time for the start of the 2017/18 season.

“Plans have been progressing for a long time and now we can finally say, that this is great news for the future of Charlton Athletic,” said owner Roland Duchâtelet, who was heavily involved in the design of the new facility.

He told www.cafc.co.uk: “We will be able to offer state-of-the-art facilities for our players, staff and for our academy which will bring long-term benefits to Charlton and the development of our players.

“It is a very competitive market when recruiting players. But this facility will help make Charlton an attraction as well as provide us with the tools to develop and educate our players at all ages as we consider the education of our young players to be just as important off the pitch as it is on it.

“This club has a very good history of creating young talent,” added Duchâtelet.

“In the recent past we have produced international players such as Jonjo Shelvey and, most recently, Joe Gomez who has already proven his worth at the highest level.

“At least one academy player has appeared in every one of Charlton’s first-team matches since 2008 and this is something we aim to continue.”

The Sparrows Lane complex will be an integrated facility, shared with the Charlton Athletic Community Trust and will also be utilised by the University of Greenwich.

Further details on the re-development of the training ground will be published on www.cafc.co.uk in the coming weeks and months. 

For photographs of the plans, please visit: http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-sparrows-lane-training-ground-planning-approved-2696338.aspx