PLANS for a multi-million pound new home for Welsh football in Newport are recommended for approval by planners.

The Football Association of Wales has applied to create a purpose-built facility to provide training, playing, sports science and education facilities as well as a new headquarters at Newport International Sports Village (NISV), Spytty.

The proposed national football centre would be for under-14 to under-21’s player development as well as providing a dedicated training facility for the Wales squad.

The project, which is set to cost £5 million, would include a new artificial pitch, which could be used by local football clubs and members of the public, and a grass pitch for national players only on existing playing fields next to the Velodrome.

If plans are passed an existing artificial pitch would be converted to a premium grade grass pitch and a new 100- seater grandstand would be built.

A laundry room could be created by converting two existing squash courts, a 44-space car park would be built and changing rooms at the Velodrome would be enlarged.

A two-storey office building will provide the HQ administrative accommodation for coaching and development operation, offices for The Welsh Football Trust and storage.

The existing skatepark would be demolished to make way for a 32- space car park, but a new one is planned for Tredegar Park.

Four letters of objection were submitted to the council opposing the development on the grounds it would deprive the community of green space and would increase noise and light pollution.

But planners recommending approval at next Wednesday’s meeting said the project would greatly enhance the sporting facilities at NISV.

More than 70 potential locations in Wales were examined by the FAW and the trust, but Newport’s International Sports Village topped the 12-strong shortlist because of its already impressive array of sporting facilities, its potential to support further such development and ease of access.