A football club has won approval to install a new clubhouse and classroom facility at one of its home grounds.

Proposals from Waveney Football Club for its Saturn Close playing field in Lowestoft aim to improve facilities for players and supporters.

The move follows a previous application that was withdrawn due to insufficient biodiversity information, but the revised plans have now been permitted.

Waveney FC (Image: Waveney FC)

The fresh plans were submitted to East Suffolk Council by agents Lisa Allard for applicant Mr S Staniforth, on behalf of the football club, on September 1.

The scheme which earmarked the "placing of a moveable (mobile building) clubhouse/classroom" facility for the football club on part of the Horizon School site on Saturn Close was approved with seven conditions under delegated council powers on Friday, October 23.

Documents said Waveney FC has used the grounds since it was founded in 1978 and now operates 63 teams that play across four different sites in Lowestoft, supporting more than 600 players of all ages and abilities.

The playing field is part of Horizon School, which is licensed by Suffolk County Council to Waveney FC.

A delegated report from the council's case officer said: "The proposal is considered to be compliant with policy, as it would be a dedicated clubhouse for Waveney FC serving the community of Lowestoft and a well established football club.

"It would be of greater community benefit to the club as a whole by providing a dedicated clubhouse on site during matches at weekends for a long-established charity, Waveney Football Club."

Currently, the club relies on a nearby public house for post-match gatherings due to the lack of suitable on-site facilities.

Documents said: "The proposed clubhouse would allow these activities to remain within the football facility itself and provide a more convenient, inclusive, and family-friendly environment."

With the site used by Waveney FC outside of school hours and on weekends, the new clubhouse is expected to create a "significant improvement" to the current facilities.