PIF have already approved £200m Newcastle United investment as concept photo emerges

Newcastle United have submitted plans to extend their current training ground whilst work to identify a site for a new state-of-the-art facility continues.

Newcastle have spent around £10million in revamping their Benton HQ since the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia bought the club in October 2021. The installation of hydrotherapy and plunge pool are the main features, but little things such as improved changing rooms, an updated presentation room, a modern players’ lounge and a new, bigger dining area have made a huge difference.

Now the Magpies want to make further improvements and, if approved, expect work to be completed by the summer of 2026.

Newcastle United confirm training ground extension plans

A club statement explained: “The redevelopment proposals look to build upon the significant work carried out at the Darsley Park site in recent years, which has helped to deliver elite performance facilities for first team players and staff.

“Planning permission has been submitted for 1,350 square metres of necessary new-build accommodation, focusing on new office and meeting space and additional support facilities.

“In turn, the existing building will be reconfigured to provide further treatment spaces and staff support areas, alongside improved front of house facilities and an enlarged players' lounge.

“The site is currently occupied by 140 personnel. Staff and visitor numbers to the site will remain unchanged following the extension.

“The proposal improves space planning, and provides enhanced facilities by enabling the removal of low quality temporary buildings. The site area includes revised car parking to the north and west perimeter of the extension, with pedestrian access into the office, media and storage spaces.”

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“Accessible parking spaces have been provided along the north of the extension in close proximity to the main entrance. Photovoltaics (PV) have been combined on the roof of the new extension and areas of existing roof to offset electrical loads on the site.

“If approved, work is expected to be completed in summer 2026.”

Newcastle United plans to build a new training ground

As reported by NewcastleWorld in January, Newcastle have set a budget of £200 million to build their state-of-the-art, Premier League-leading new training complex.

We understand the Magpies hierarchy have set aside the nine-figure sum in order to complete the ambitious training ground project, which is seen as essential to push Newcastle into the upper echelons of not only the Premier League, but world football.

The £200m budget would dwarf that of other, similar Premier League projects with Leicester City’s £100m complex being completed in 2020. It’s understood the new complex will not only house the Newcastle United first-team, but will also have built-in, separate academy and women’s team facilities.

The location is still to be identified, however, NewcastleWorld has information that a North Tyneside site has been heavily surveyed, said to be ‘on the edges of Killingworth’, while other publications have speculated at a Newcastle Racecourse site - which would tally with our info - or one further out towards Newcastle Airport.

Newcastle United CEO provides training ground update

“On training ground, the work is going on in the background,” CEO Darren Eales said last month. “And again, it feels like every club I've been at, we did it at Tottenham, we did it at Atlanta. We're doing a lot of that work that you need to do in the background to be in position when we've identified the site that's appropriate to then go with full speed.

“We’re still making ongoing investments in the short term to our current [training ground] spot. We are looking to the medium term for a new training ground. That again speaks to [PIF’s] commitment.”

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