PLANS for a new artificial pitch at Malvern Town Football Club are set to get the go-ahead later this week.

The club applied earlier this year for planning permission to create the pitch, along with new floodlighting and an extension to the clubhouse to provide extra changing rooms.

Now the application is up before Malvern Hills District Council’s southern area planning committee, which is meeting on Wednesday evening.

And planning officers are recommending that it gets the go-ahead.

In a report that will go before the planning committee, officers say: “the proposed development will provide a clean, safe and modern facility to inspire sporting participation and will enhance the existing sport and recreation provision.

“ Furthermore, it will provide a genuine asset for the applicant and local community sporting groups and organisations and encourage and inspire more people of all ages to participate in sport.”

Earlier this year, the club was granted a new 25-year lease for the HDanywhere Stadium Langland Avenue.

The new lease will help the club to secure £1million in investment which will pay for the improved facilities.

The club’s plans for the future include expanding the number of junior, girls and women’s teams, training new and higher-level coaches and attracting better players to the first team.

But to do so, it needs to replace the grass playing surface with an artificial pitch and upgrade its changing facilities to FA standards.

Malvern Hills District Council owns the ground after buying it in August 2014. Since then the club has been on short-term leases to allow it to finalise its plans.

Club chairman Chris Pinder said: “The club has been given incredible support from Malvern Hills District Council and the Football Association, and I can’t wait to cut the ribbon alongside them to our brilliant new stadium in 2020.”