Liverpool are set to relocate their first-team training facilities from the historic Melwood Training Ground to Kirkby after a £50m project was agreed to be funded by the Fenway Sports Group, according to the reports from Liverpool Echo. The Melwood Training Ground is where the Liverpool first team trains and Kirkby is where Liverpool’s Youth Academy is located. The academy was opened in 1998 and it enabled Liverpool to focus more on their youth system to develop young superstars.

Liverpool are planning to purchase 14 acres of land at the rear of Kirby academy, which is the Simonswood Playing fields. The plan was driven by Jurgen Klopp, who has wanted the first-team and the youth teams to train under one single roof. However, this was not possible as the Melwood Training Ground is located 5 miles away from Kirkby.

A lot of options were considered and it was not possible to expand Melwood Training Ground due to lack of space. Instead, expanding Liverpool’s Training Academy was the most feasible option and a proposal has been made to Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The Local residents of Kirkby and Melwood will receive letters regarding the plan and will be thoroughly informed of the club’s proposals.

A planning application will be submitted to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in the next few months and if the proposal is accepted, work would start by early 2018.

The change would mean the sale of Melwood, which is a prime site, and it would help addressing the shortage of high-quality family homes in the area. A similar thing was done by Everton as well when they left Bellefield for Finch Farm in 2007.

The existing buildings at Kirkby are set to remain and be refurbished with first-team training centre built nearby. The facilities will include a new covered artificial pitch, a pool and hydrotherapy complex, gymnasium and specialist sports rehabilitation suites. As part of the scheme, Liverpool will upgrade the remaining community football pitches nearby and build new changing facilities and a car park. The surrounding area will also get a facelift with new walking and cycling paths created.

The total size of the new Liverpool Academy and Training Centre will be 60 acres when the expansion is completed. The architecture of which will be done by London-based Architects KSS, who designed Anfield’s new Main Stand.

Architects KSS specialise in major sports venues and training facilities. Apart from Liverpool’s Main Stand, they have also worked on London’s Olympic Stadium, Stamford Bridge, Twickenham, the No 1 Court at Wimbledon and Tottenham’s new stadium. They also designed Spurs’ 77-acre Bulls Cross Training Complex in Enfield which was opened in 2012. Apparently, it is home to both their first team and the academy.

The plan is to complete the work by the summer of 2019 so that Liverpool can start their pre-season preparations for 2019/20 season in their ‘New Home’.

This surely is exciting news for Liverpool fans and players and this would be a significant step forward in Liverpool’s future as a modern Football Club.