BOLTON Wanderers have been given the green light to upgrade their academy in Lostock with a new pavilion and floodlights.

Councillors backed the plans at a special meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, despite criticism from members of the Lostock Residents' Association.

The club now have permission to replace the temporary buildings at the academy on Ox Hey Lane with a new pavilion, including five pairs of team changing rooms, a first aid room and parents' and coaches' lounge.

Speaking at the meeting, Bolton Wanderers representative Richard Gee said the changes would not only benefit the club but the surrounding community as well.

He said: “The benefit of this proposal is that the new facilities can be used more widely by the local community.

"The range of uses can be increased — to include female football, for example — and it will benefit community groups who will use the pitch later in the evenings.”

However, Michael Coop spoke against the plans on behalf of the Lostock Residents Association, arguing that there would be an excess level of surface water and light pollution from the floodlights. He said: “Can we not have it with a green roof, or something like a turf roof, to stop the environmental aspect of the pavilion looking like an aircraft hanger?”

The plans were approved, with a request that the Wanderers look at installing a green roof on the new building and that the floodlights will not be turned before 9am or after 10pm.