Bromborough sports academy plan wins councillors support

Oct 7 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

AMBITIOUS plans to create the country’s biggest indoor football academy in Bromborough have passed the first hurdle.

Planning officers had recommended the application by Sport Excel Academy Ltd to convert a derelict industrial unit on Bromborough International Business Park into a major international coaching academy be rejected.

They said the land was zoned for industrial and warehousing use and it should be considered only for industry, despite the building being vacant for the last six years.

But Wirral Council’s planning committee overturned the recommendation and unanimously voted in favour of the scheme on Thursday.

The details have now been sent to Government Office North West as it goes against Wirral’s Unitary Development Plan.

Sports Excel Academy chief executive John Granby said: “Obviously I’m delighted. It’s fantastic news but it’s a slightly bittersweet result.

“We don’t know how long the next stage is going to take but West Cheshire College want students in there in January, so we need to open in November.”