Birmingham City Football Club did not have planning permission for the £1.25 million facility upgrades at its Warwickshire training ground, an application has revealed.

The football club has asked for retrospective permission for the works at its Henley-in-Arden base which included replacing a 3G pitch with a 'stitched hybrid grass pitch', undersoil heating, a media pod, ball-stop netting and a 'performance camera tower'.

Plans submitted to Stratford-on-Avon District Council state the works began in 2023 when Blues moved to Stratford Road following a fire at their Wast Hills training ground.

The application says the works have been completed and now the club is looking for planning permission to keep the changes, for a "temporary period" of five years.

"The new hybrid grass pitch for which the undersoil heating serves, replaced a previous 3G surface at a cost of £1.25million," the application said. 

"A further £750,000 has been invested to bring the adjacent gymnasium up to standard for an elite football team. 

"The media pod, performance camera tower and ball stop netting also form part of the Birmingham City Football Club's significant investment in the EPIC training facility."

Blues moved to Henley-in-Arden in 2023 (image via planning application)

The works to the gym are not included in the planning application.

The application said the underground heating is needed to ensure the outdoor pitch can be used throughout the winter and will reduce long-term maintenance.

"The retention of the existing improvement works to the Site will directly support the ambitious aspirations of Birmingham City Football Club," the application added.

It continued: "The proposal is regarded as a sustainable development located in an appropriate location and considered to be in accordance with the relevant policies of the statutory development plan and national planning policy. 

"As such, planning permission should be granted without delay."

See the full application here.