10/02/2023: Council reveals plans for new artificial football pitch

Breckland Council is working on plans to build a brand-new artificial football pitch in Attleborough, as part of a commitment to further expand the sports and leisure facility on the high street.

The district council is looking to build the 3G pitch at the Attleborough Academy site, on Norwich Road. The new facility would be big enough for 11 versus 11 games or marked off to enable multiple smaller matches to be played at the same time.

It is expected that this would bring a major boost to local teams, including local men's, women's and disability football players, as well as casual users, who would be able to hire the pitch for matches or recreational use. The academy students would also benefit from its use during designated time slots.

Breckland have led the collaboration of over £1m of investment, working with the Academy (which is part of the Sapientia Education Trust), Football Foundation, Norfolk Football Association and Attleborough Town council to benefit its residents.

Cllr Alison Webb, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Health & Communities, commented: "We still have some way to go secure the funding and planning permission, but we've set out a really ambitious plan to bring money and improved facilities into the district, which would provide a huge boost for local football teams. We anticipate that this will also help further build the profile and accessibility of men's, women's and disability football, which would be a great result for our community."

Cllr Philip Leslie, chair of the Town Council, added: "We're delighted that this long championed and much needed community facility is progressing towards becoming a reality. Our active engagement with local sports and community groups identified this as one of our key priorities and the significant support of the Town Council reflects our commitment to delivering long term improvements for the benefit of our residents."

The proposal has been warmly received by local football teams, including Attleborough Town FC. The team's Secretary, Patrick Snowsell, commented: "Many of our youth and adult teams currently have to travel to Wymondham to train so the prospect of having this facility within the town is hugely exciting. It will create opportunities for the club to develop in new areas of the game and the whole club is looking forward to seeing this develop."

Breckland Council is currently working on applications to seek planning permission for the pitch and to secure the necessary funding. If successful, work is expected to start later this year and the pitch would be completed in 2024.

Plans for the new football pitch are in addition to the planned multi-million-pound expansion of the sports centre, which is also on the Attleborough Academy site. The £2.6m project is expected to see the gym redeveloped and new rooms built to enable fitness classes and other activities to be held at the site in the future. Breckland Council is also leading that scheme and is currently developing the plan before seeking planning permission and contractors to carry out the work.