Why Aston Villa want overnight rooms for players at Bodymoor Heath

Aston Villa’s plans to build overnight accommodation for players at Bodymoor Heath are centred around achieving “elite sport marginal gain”. 

That was the case made by the club’s projects director Shaun Darke to North Warwickshire Borough Council’s planning committee with councillors unanimously supporting proposals to revamp the club’s training ground.

However, the green light does not quite mean what it usually would for a planning decision. Because this is in the green belt, it now needs to be signed off by the secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, the new deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP.

The wider masterplan relates to improving provision for the women’s and youth teams, plus permanent new office space for administrative and media staff.

The big operational change involves a new two-storey rehabilitation centre that includes 40 bedrooms for players and staff to stay on site when they return from evening fixtures.

Mr Darke said: “As Aston Villa goes from strength to strength – we got back into the Premier League in 2019 and were lucky enough to move into the Champions League – this is about elite sport marginal gain.

“When the players come back late at night, they can come back for their recuperation, have their recuperation during the day, they can have medicals done, bloods taken, and it all integrates with existing buildings there.”

He also detailed how some of the work was about improving provision that was disrupted by HS2 works and upgrading provision for women’s and girls’ teams, elements of the club that have “grown dramatically in the past four years”

Mr Darke added: “We have young girls from six upwards and they are working out of small portacabins which is not adequate, we want to afford them the same facilities as everyone else.”

Councillor Denise Clews (Cn, Atherstone South & Mancetter) thanked Villa for taking girls’ football seriously with Mr Darke replying: “It is a big part of ethos, it is good.”

Councillor Katie Hobley (Lab, Hartshill), who is also a grassroots coach in girls’ football, also welcomed the work.

“I understand the problematic side of it being on the green belt but I urge everyone to get on board with this,” she said.

“The differences (football) makes to my kids, the positive effect on their mental health and wellbeing, their social skills, they are getting out of the house and not getting stuck behind screens.

“Grassroots football for girls is growing and with clubs like Villa bringing this forward, you have to get behind it. You have my 100 per cent support.”