HOME WIN ON COLCHESTER UNITED TRAINING PITCHES - PLUS COSTS

Colchester United have succeeded in winning approval from Colchester Borough Council for 5 training pitches and facilities building including meeting, training and physiotherapy rooms, gym, canteen and changing facilities on a 9 hectare site at Grange Road, Tiptree.  One of the pitches and the changing rooms and canteen will be available for use by local community teams.

The late approval of a duplicate application by the Council resulted in the withdrawal of the Club's appeal and an order for costs in their favour on the basis of para. B59 of Part B of the Annex to Circular 03/2009 covering concession by a planning authority on a "further identical application... where the evidence base is unchanged and the scheme is unamended".

The much needed facilities will complement the Club's new 10,000 seat Weston Homes Community Stadium at Cuckoo Farm in north Colchester and help further its aspirations to be promoted from League One to regain its former position in the Championship League.  Provision of the community pitch will give local clubs the opportunity to train on first class professional facilities and will further the Club's already strong links with the local community through its education and training programmes.

Club Chairman Robbie Cowling said: "The training ground moving closer to reality is a big step forward as we aim to become a sustainable Championship football club in the future".

Meyric Lewis instructed by John Lawson of Lawson Planning Partnership acted for Colchester United and advised on their successful costs claim.