West Ham United Football Club (WHUFC) has submitted a planning application to Havering Council for the transformation of the former Ford Sports and Social Club site into a new training ground.

The 29-acre (11.7-hectare) Rush Green facility will be developed in two phases; the first including the renovation of the existing sports club, the construction of new groundsman's buildings and the creation of three full-size training pitches. First team players and staff will relocate to the site when the first phase is complete, before work gets underway on the second stage to include a purpose-built training, rehabilitation and media centre to replace the renovated sports club building.

An additional four training pitches will also be created as part of Phase Two, along with the refurbishment of an existing stand and terracing around one of the pitches. Havering Council is expected to reach a decision on the proposals in early 2010, which have been drawn up following an extensive consultation and will provide the club with a venue for the majority of its home reserve games. WHUFC's existing training ground at Chadwell Heath will be retained for youth team use.

WHUFC chief executive officer Scott Duxbury said: "This is a major step forward for the club. A new training ground with world-class facilities is fundamental to our vision for the next few years. "Chadwell Heath has been a fantastic home for many generations but I have been aware in recent years that it is no longer fit for our first-team aspirations."