Aston Villa to begin work on Inner City Academy
Written by Training Ground Guru — March 18, 2022
ASTON VILLA will begin work on their new Inner City Academy adjacent to Villa Park this summer.
The new facility is intended to cater for youngsters from the inner city areas of Aston, Witton, Perry Barr, Kingstanding, Erdington, Handsworth and Nechells, who might find it difficult to get to Bodymoor Heath training ground, which is 13 miles from Villa Park.
Planning permission was granted for the Inner City Academy last May and final tenders are now in. The site will house a full-size indoor 3G pitch, an outdoor floodlit 3G pitch, plus a purpose built two-storey building with six changing rooms, a lounge for players and parents, and an office.
Two weeks ago Villa said: "Our new central Birmingham satellite academy at Brookvale, adjacent to Villa Park, has received planning permission and we are expecting construction to begin shortly."
Construction is expected to begin following Villa's final home match of the season against Crystal Palace on May 15th. The Academy is not expected to be in use on first-team match days.
In the summer 2020, Villa completed a new £14m Academy base at Bodymoor Heath following a two-year build. Rugby-based practice HB Architects were behind the revamp and will also design the new Inner City Academy.