Liverpool Football Club’s vision to bring its first team and Academy football training operations together on one site moved another step forward today with outline planning granted for the existing training facility at Melwood.

The application, which was approved today by Liverpool City Council's planning committee, provides consent for up to 160 new family homes with open space and landscaping. Plans also include vehicle access from Melwood Drive and Deysbrook Lane, in addition to cycle and pedestrian access from Crown Road.

As part of the planning a process, the club held a pre-planning consultation with just under 3,000 local residents and business in the area requesting feedback on the proposals. LFC also held a community drop–in session at West Derby Golf Club earlier this year, providing further information on the proposed scheme.

Peter Moore, LFC’s chief executive officer, said:“The approval today by Liverpool City Council is another step forward on our journey to create world-class training facilities for our first team and academy players together on one site at Kirkby.

“Melwood has played a significant role in the club’s history and will always be engrained in our rich tapestry; however, the site is limited in terms of space and is unable to accommodate the club’s ambitions for a new combined training facility. This latest planning approval for the Melwood site is a key part of the wider project.”