The London Borough of Hounslow Council has approved planning permission for a new Queens Park Rangers training ground in Heston
The vision for the facility will accommodate the club’s first team, under 23s and academy squads, is being delivered by an expert project team including planning advisors hgh Consulting, architects Studio Zoppini Architetti and design engineering consultants Buro Happold.
The QPR club acquired the 27-acre site in December and work will commence from 1 October. Works that will include undersoil heating, are expected to take nine months to complete.
Specialist sports pitch constructors White Horse Contractors will bring over 60 years of expertise to design and construct hybrid turf football pitches at the new training ground.
The project will include the hybrid playing surface GrassMaster, a comprehensive drainage system, full irrigation, energy-efficient under-pitch heating along with wider site infrastructure.
Work on the new training ground building will start before the end of the calendar year.
Full details regarding the QPR Bond will be released on 30 September.
Training facilities are the ‘catalyst for the next generation’
QPR CEO Lee Hoos said: “Investment in infrastructure, such as a bespoke training ground, is the greatest indication of ownership which is here for the long term and genuinely believes in the growth of their football club.
“The owners will be personally covering a significant portion of the cost and we will also be issuing a Bond to assist with the financing.
“This approach has been successfully carried out by Burnley and Norwich City previously.”
Patrick Grincell, co-founding director of hgh, said: “We have advised QPR throughout the process from site acquisition to securing planning permission and I am delighted to continue working with the club to deliver on its vision to provide a new training facility.”
Alessandro Zoppini, principal at Studio Zoppini Architetti, said: “It was important that the design provides a welcoming and healthy atmosphere for the athletes and staff, to generate a positive and supportive environment for the improvement of performance and a collective endeavour.
“In a similar way, the building performs to high standards and is integrated and respectful to its location as it is to the local community.”
Steve Macey, director at Buro Happold, said: “Having been involved over a number of years to consolidate the club’s first team with the academy onto a single site, I am delighted that the latest proposal at Heston has been granted planning permission.
“Any new training facility has to embrace the health and development of the players along with staff welfare – and the proposals we have developed do just that. We are all excited to see the project move to the construction phase and inspire the next generation of players to achieve QPR’s vision.”
