Plans to bring football back to one of the oldest grounds in Sussex have been approved.

Old Barn Way, the former ground of Southwick Football Club, will be redeveloped into a modern footballing facility and community space by the Russell Martin Foundation (RMF).

The scheme will see the creation of a new clubhouse and full-size 3G football pitch with replacement floodlights and a spectator stand for up to 56 people.

As well as having changing rooms, a bar and kitchen, the single-storey clubhouse will be a flexible space for a variety of education and health improvement programmes.

The application has been approved by Adur District Council’s planning committee, pending confirmation of drainage details.

RMF is backed by Russell Martin, a former professional footballer for Norwich City, Rangers and Scotland, who is the current manager of Southampton FC. The foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which was created by Mr Martin to give something back to the area where he was born and raised.

As owner of the site, the council released £50,000 of funding from developers so that RMF could carry out urgent safety works to the facility, allowing football to be played at the ground again in the short-term.

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Wanting to transform the site and build a new community clubhouse, RMF asked for permission to demolish the existing derelict building which had been used by Southwick Football Club. However, the site needed to become operational again before the charity could submit a planning application to redevelop the facility.

The plans include eight-metre-high netting at the southern and eastern boundaries of the pitch to protect the railway line and residents from being disturbed. A four-and-a-half metre-high fence is also included around the perimeter of the pitch.

Improved access from the existing car parking area will also be provided, with a new site entrance and two accessible parking spaces close to the new clubhouse.

Councillor Emma Evans, Adur's cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said: “I'd like to thank the Russell Martin Foundation for its interest in bringing this facility back to life, for the benefit of the whole community.

“I'm really pleased we were able to support the Russell Martin Foundation in 2021 to help get the ball rolling in transforming this valuable facility.

“The plans for the new clubhouse and third-generation football pitch are really exciting. I hope it won't be long until locals can benefit from the site's redevelopment.”