Hounslow Council's Planning Committee has decided to approve Brentford FC's training ground redevelopment at Jersey Road, which will see new pitches and a new academy building come to the site.

To comply with rules for the next Premier League season Brentford must have a Category Three Academy, with the plans bringing it to Category One.

Currently Brentford is a Category 4 Academy and the only club in the Premier League that does not have the minimum requirement of Category Three, which could leave them "disadvantaged in the long-term".

Unlike certain football academies that offer on-site education, Brentford's academy will operate during after school hours on weekdays, with peak operational times anticipated to be between 4-9pm and matches during the weekends from 10am-4pm.

Planning Officer Sophie Middleton told councillors that "very special circumstances" have been shown in the plans with proposals to bring in high quality sport facilities and community benefits to the area.

Still, the proposed indoor 4G pitch is considered to cause harm to the surrounding area with its height coming in at 17.2m - higher than other buildings in the area.

To mitigate this, Brentford plans to build the new indoor 4G pitch away from neighbouring properties at the northern part of the training ground.

Despite community support of the club's plans, some objectors during the meeting last night (7 March) mentioned loss of Metropolitan Open Land and increased noise levels from the site.

Proposed elevations of Brentford FC's training ground indoor 4G pitch (credit: Planning application).

One objector told the Planning Committee that flood lights, increased noise levels and changes to the land will affect the neighbouring residents of Alderney Avenue.

They said: "MOL is afforded the same protection as Green Belt. Green Belt policy is there to prevent urban sprawl.

"This development will bring harm, quite considerable harm and the temporary nature of any short term benefits must not outweigh the harm caused."

They added: "Will a site running made up of tents and porta-cabins be a world class facility? That is the emotive language used by the (planning) officer.

"We are not sure how many facilities the officer has visited to reach such a conclusion, such emotive language is not evidence based for such a bold inaccurate statement."

Another objector slammed Planning Officer Middleton's report calling it 'flawed', as they felt it did not address issues concerning the installation of flood lights, increased noise levels from additional pitches and time frame of the proposals.

They said: "This is a 50 acre site. We are not saying not in our backyard, we are saying be neighbourly, be humane.

"Look at Crystal Palace they have got a 26 acre site and they've got half the site with just one pitch on flood lights and they have managed in 26 acres to put all those buildings away from residents and you are telling me on a 50 acre site - think of it yourselves.

"This whole report by Sophie is so flawed that she has made you think like that."

They continued: "Look at the buildings. There are no justifications for them to be here - that's the most harmful positions you can get, the flood lights the most harmful positions you can get.

"They've been here 16 years and they have been lying constantly - five year five year five year temporary applications. This is not temporary."

Image of Brentford FC's current training ground at Jersey Road (credit: Planning application).

Cliff Crown, Chair of Brentford FC told cllrs: "The club and its advisors has considered all the matters raised very carefully, have provided further details on and justification for the scheme and have made amendments in response to meet the requirements of the planning officer and her colleagues.

"Unless the club operates a Category One Academy, it will be far more difficult to attract talented young footballers.

"Following Brexit, it is much more difficult to attract talented young players from Europe and therefore the club needs to develop and recruit players themselves.

"A Category One Academy is the only way of doing that."

Crown added: "I have instructed my colleagues at the club to work closely with our neighbouring residents going forward.

"We will be inviting them to a meeting shortly to discuss how we can manage the construction and the future operation of our training ground to minimise any disturbance to them and we will set up a community engagement group that will meet regularly to provide a meaningful dialogue between the club and our neighbours."

The Planning Committee approved Brentford FC's plans 10-2.

To read the full plans, click here and to watch the Planning Committee meeting from Thursday, 7 March 2024, click here.

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