Work well underway on AFC Bournemouth’s multimillion-pound training facility

Work is now well underway on AFC Bournemouth’s new multimillion-pound training facility, with no fewer than ten companies involved.

A 57-acre site is being redeveloped on the former Canford Magna golf course to bring the club’s first team, development squad, academy and pre-academy training operations into one location for the first time.

The training complex will feature nine full-size pitches, three junior pitches, three goalkeeping pitches and indoor and outdoor artificial playing surfaces.

There will also be state-of-the-art medical, fitness, sports science and rehabilitation facilities, administrative space and a press conference theatre.

Progress on the new site continues apace following the recent opening of the covered 4G pitch.

The concrete frame to the main building is completed with the external façade underway, while the pitch maintenance building’s steel frame is complete, including the roof and mezzanine level.

Wall cladding and windows are expected to be installed by the end of this month with internal fit-out following.

Led by Darren Booth, AFC Bournemouth’s project manager, companies involved include:

• Savills at the planning stage, with their in-depth understanding of sports planning helping to smooth the way to securing planning approval for AFCB.
• AFL Architects designed the complex which is nestled on the former Canford golf course, taking consideration of the established parkland setting and stands of trees to aid biodiversity. The buildings are constructed with careful detailing and sensitively chosen materials for a contemporary design that harmonises with the surrounding landscape.
• Calcinotto Ltd is providing civil and structural engineering services for the project. The superstructure is predominantly a reinforced concrete frame, with flat slabs at first second and roof level, supported on a combination of reinforced piles and ground beams incorporating a basement under part of the building footprint. AFL and Calcinotto attend regular meetings with AFCB, discussing and monitoring site progress, design and programme.
• Specialist Piling Solutions Ltd installed the piling for the main structures and the covered 4G pitch (dome structure).
• Wedgewood Groundworks provided sustainable ground remediation after expert design advice from Calcinotto. resulting in the spoil being mixed which was used to fill ponds that formed part of the former golf course and had the added benefit of reverting to a cost effective ground bearing slab.
• Gracelands Civil Engineering and Groundworks acted as Principal Contractor to carry out the piled foundations to AFCB’s covered 4G pitch.
• Collinson Construction Ltd worked alongside AFL Architects and Calcinotto to design the full size indoor 4G pitch. The building features a clear span structure and the footprint is 8239 sq m.
• Southern Structures has completed the groundworks for the basement and reinforced concrete frame for all the main buildings associated with the training complex.
• Amiri Construction has begun fit-out works to the training complex. The structure elevates from a single storey, through to a three-storey building which will house a built-in medical suite, hydrotherapy pool and gym.
• Omisa is providing site and commercial management, direct to AFCB.

The new training facility is currently on schedule for completion in Spring 2025 and is expected to rival all clubs in England’s top-flight.