Peterborough United place training ground works on temporary hold due to rising costs

Peterborough United have submitted a planning application for a new temporary cabin at the club’s training ground at Nene Park Academy, on Oundle Road, after the construction of the planned supporting facilities around the club’s new air dome were been put on hold.

In July, the club’s academy was officially awarded Category Two status (the second-highest possible). The final stage to achieving this was the delivery of a covered pitch under the new 63m long x 45m wide x 11m high air dome.

The dome was officially opened in February but the plans also included significant supporting accommodation, namely a two-storey modular structure including:

- 4 team changing rooms with shower and WC facilities

- Coaches changing rooms

- Referees changing room

- Disabled changing space

- 2 new classrooms

- Team meeting room

- Analysis suite

- Guest lounge for parents and guardians of players

- Office support space

The application for the temporary building states that the development of these facilities has been put on temporary hold due to a number of factors including escalating costs and ground issues with the construction of the dome and the drop in revenue due to the club’s relegation from the Championship.

Posh Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has previously said that the dome would come in at around £300,000 over the original budget.

Speaking about the application, Co-owner Jason Neale said: “The club applied for planning permission for a three-stage project. Stage 1, the dome. Stage 2 buildings. Stage 3 Futsal hall. We used a comprehensive approach to reduce costs and work.

“We always intended to use temporary buildings until stage 2 is complete.”

The facilities will be provided for the time being on the existing premises and at the Weston Homes Stadium despite being “heavily compromised by both space and location.”

The requirement for a new parent lounge remains, however, therefore the application for the temporary building for a minimum period of two-three years has been submitted.

The club has said that the building could also be used to provide additional classroom space, meeting rooms and an analysis suite and it hoped the full range of supporting facilities will replace the building “in the near future.”

The cabin would be located between the dome and the car park.

The application can be viewed on Peterborough City Council’s planning portal using reference 22/01416/R4FUL.