Wolves reveal £50m training complex redevelopment

Wed 13th Jul 2011 | Football Stadiums & Facilities

Wolverhampton Wanderers have revealed proposals for a major £50 million investment into Compton Park which will see the education, sport and community benefits spread throughout Wolverhampton.

The club hopes this unique proposal will result in over 150 direct construction jobs being created, plus an additional 250 indirect jobs in the supply chain.  

The carefully co-ordinated plans have been prompted by the decision of the University of Wolverhampton to vacate its Compton Park Campus. This has led to a unique collaboration between some of the main partners on Compton Park: University of Wolverhampton, St Edmund's Catholic School, the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton Wanderers ('Wolves') Football Club, together with Redrow Homes.

Wolves will build a new indoor pitch, improve existing pitches and create an FA Premier League 'Category 1' Football Academy, complying with the new Academy accreditation system. Wolves' aim is to create a world-class facility, giving talented local youngsters the best possible chance to progress, along with providing some community access.

The plans will also include Wolves donating its £1 million Indoor Academy Arena at Aldersley Leisure Village to Wolves Community Trust, which will assist the independent charity in positively impacting thousands of young, disadvantaged and disabled people across Wolverhampton.

Steve Morgan, Chairman of Wolves and speaking at a joint press conference at St Edmund's Catholic School said: "This unique proposal has huge benefits for the City of Wolverhampton. It is almost unheard of to see so many parties from the public and private sector collaborating so well together for the benefit of all.

“These £50 million investment plans signal a truly great opportunity to kick-start one of the most significant proposals our City has seen for many years. It will provide compelling educational, community and economic benefits, not just for the users of Compton Park, but for thousands of people across Wolverhampton.

"The nature of the plans, with each development completely interdependent on the other, means that we have only one very limited window of opportunity to bring these proposals to fruition. However, we all remain confident and optimistic there is the joint will and impetus of the partners, along with the finance already in place, to make these plans a reality.

"The partners appreciate that Compton Park is in the Green Belt and the proposals therefore need to be sensitive to the green open spaces, which is why as much as possible is contained within the major developed sites. We will also look to provide better access to the public than currently is available. We are in active discussion with the City planners and believe we can demonstrate the very special circumstances required to permit this development. I'd encourage people in the local community to attend one of the Consultation evenings to see how we intend to change Compton Park for the better, retaining its open, green environment.

"Our plans will benefit the whole community, from parents, children and staff of St Edmund's Catholic School, the Wolves Community Trust working with children and young adults throughout the City, students and researchers at the University of Wolverhampton through their new proposed Applied Science Building.

"And, of course, these plans will support the Club's aim to create a world-class Football Academy. With the introduction of the new Premier League Academy system, the Club needs to make a significant investment in its facilities to ensure it's not left behind. We want to be at the forefront of these Premier League developments, giving our talented local youngsters the best possible chance to progress within a world-class facility."

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