Hammers start moving on new training HQ

Claret and Hugh has learned that a major upgrade in training facilities at the Rush Green site is underway.

We have been told exclusively that two first class Premier League quality pitches will be built over the summer which will be available for the first team to use.

This is the first stage in a major redevelopment of Rush Green which will see an investment of around £13m to make it the primary training facility for the Hammers ultimately causing  the closure of Chadwell Heath.

The major redevelopment and moving of first team training will not happen until 2017  to coincide with the move to the Olympic Stadium.

The club has been at the Chadwell Heath training ground since 1955 and the club is now ready to move into a new era given that  it is a mere 10 acres in size

The Hammers entered d into an option agreement to purchase the freehold interest in the 29 acre Rush Green Ford Sports Ground from the Ford Motor Company in the February of  2009 and later completed the acquisition of the property for a sum of £1.4 million.

The original plan was  a new state of the art training facility with the club submitting a planning permission application to Havering Council.