City’s training ground plans under scrutiny

CARDIFF City Football Club could finally get permission to start work on a new training ground this week.

The Bluebirds want to build the new training ground, in the Vale of Glamorgan, on council-owned agricultural land south-west of Junction 34 of the M4.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Planning Committee will discuss the first part of the plans, which would include 15 pitches on land opposite Hensol Villas, on Thursday.

The club also wants to build a twostorey training centre in the middle of the new ground, with 123 car parking spaces, but this is subject to a separate planning application.

Vale of Glamorgan Council officers have advised the committee to approve permission for the 15 pitches, across a 44-acre site, subject to conditions.

That’s despite 19 letters of objection being sent to the council since the planning application was first submitted in 2013.

Concerns raised by residents include the new training ground’s proximity to neighbouring properties, potential floodlighting, flooding issues and ‘noise levels and disturbance including obscene language,’ a council report says.

Pendoylan Community Council has also raised concerns about noise and increase in traffic resulting from the development, and has objected to using the land for non-agricultural purposes.

The training centre, which will be decided on another date, would include a gym, pool, treatment rooms and dining rooms.

There would also be spectator terraces overlooking the first team pitches to the west of the training ground and for academy pitches to the east.

Plans for the new training ground were originally submitted following Cardiff City’s promotion to the Premier League in 2013.

The Bluebirds were relegated in the 2013-14 season, but won promotion back to the top flight last season.

They play their first game back in the Premier League away at Bournemouth on August 11.

Cardiff City has been contacted for comment.