Clubhouse plans for Lavare Park in Old Catton near Norwich

Old Catton Parish Council first lodged plans with Broadland District Council in July 2023 to build a new clubhouse for the football teams using Lavare Park.

The community centre will be built off Buxton Road and will feature a huge community space, a bar, kitchen and changing facilities for the teams who use the site.

The huge new clubhouse will have window walls for views over the football picthes (Image: Redhead Architects via Broadland District Council)

"It is hoped that the main function of the community space will be for use by communities for regular organised group activities such as exercise classes, young people group activities such as girl guiding/scouting, home education groups, dance groups, local groups and societies requiring larger meeting space such as horticultural groups," said a spokeswoman for Old Catton Parish Council.

"It is envisaged that the space will be available for ad-hoc hire which will include birthday parties and special events.

"With greater expansion at the north of the parish, it is acknowledged that a community space is required."

Four football pitches will be marked at the site (Image: Redhead Architects via Broadland District Council)

The park is on the edge of the proposed site of the upcoming Beeston Park development, which will see 3,500 homes built in the land north of Old Catton.

However, those living near the site have raised concerns about the potential for increased noise late at night and parking issues along Buxton Road and the nearby residential areas.

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One homeowner in Austin Way said: "We have no objection to the new clubhouse if it is used for football reasons.

"A function venue and bar is not acceptable."

The site will also be used as a community centre with a kitchen and bar (Image: Redhead Architects via Broadland District Council)

Another said: "This plan should not go ahead for the wellbeing and peace of the residents of Austin Way and Ernest Drive and the wider community.

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"I and other residents have objected strongly to this application and need to be heard."

Sport England, a key consultant for the plans, originally objected to the application and raised concerns about the scale of the clubhouse and the size of the proposed football pitches, but reversed this decision in June.

Broadland District Council is considering the application.