COUNCILLORS have welcomed plans to transform a burned out sports pavilion into a modern football pitch and boxing club for the community.

Ealing Council last week submitted drawings for an application to build a one-storey sports facility on Lord Halsbury Playing Fields, near the entrance of Willow Tree Primary School, off Priors Farm Lane, Northolt.

The disused clubhouse was burned to the ground in April last year. The authority hopes to create a new £1million home for youth football club Larkspur Rovers and Northolt Amateur Boxing Club.

The latest drawings include a new clubhouse with four changing rooms, a large community hall with a bar and kitchen facilities, and a boxing gym alongside a hard court, seven football pitches of varying size, 30 new car parking spaces and three disabled places.

Local councillors have welcomed the plans for Northolt which has limited community facilities like this.

Chris Summers said: "As a local ward councillor who was elected with a mandate to deliver more opportunities for young people, I welcome this development.

"But I am fully aware that, as a member of the planning committee, I have a duty to scrutinise these plans thoroughly and decide if they are appropriate to the location and will not adversely affect the local residents."

A planning statement said: "Northolt badly needs this building, due to lack of other similar facilities in the area. The previous building was burned out mainly due to lack of security and poor accessibility.

"A brand new state of the art, attractive facility with good security measures included would be of great benefit to the site and the wider community."

It is hoped the clubs could move in by November pending planning approval.