THE future of sports facilities used by hundreds of youngsters has been secured after plans for a £1.4million clubhouse were given the go-ahead.

Officials from Upper Clapton Rugby Club in Thornwood have been given the green light to repair and extend the crumbling building, which dates from 1933, to accommodate its 10 teams, as well as adding an Astroturf and hockey pitch for the wider community.

Chairman Steve Slade said: “I haven’t come down from the ceiling yet. It’s the best news I’ve had in 35 years at the club – that’s how much it means.

“Some 200 kids used the club on Sundays. This is about the future and if we hadn’t got it, we would have been in dire straits.

“The club would not have been there in 10 years’ time.”

Members hope to receive a £500,000 from a Sport England grant and raise another £150,000 through members and the community.

However, it will have to make up the remaining funding by selling part of its car park with planning permission for eight semi-detached homes, which it hopes to gain £800,000 to £1million for.

Planning officials said ahead of a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposals that the homes should not be built on the Green Belt land set aside, which would have scuppered the club’s plans.

Mr Slade said he expected the new club house, which members hope will also be available to the wider community for activities like martial arts and darts, to be complete before the end of 2014.

“We have things that have to occur before the physical work starts,” he added. “But if it all goes to plan, I would think it will take around two years.”

• The club is hosting a forum at its base in Upland Road with Epping Forest District Council on November 19, for people who run sports clubs. Speakers will give information on funding opportunities, sports for people with disabilities and networking with other clubs.

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