A new sports and education hub will be built at the old Woodford Town Football Ground.

Redbridge Council granted planning permission for the Snakes Lane East ground, which has been derelict and overgrown for 15 years, to be transformed into a brand new facility, last night.

The new pavilion and revamped grounds will be used for sports, training, health and education.

There will be a nursery on site that will accommodate 50 youngsters with before and after school clubs in two classrooms.

Sports studies will be available on site for 16-18-year-olds during the main school day and weekend activities will provide a range of activities for young people.

The changes will be driven by the team at Foundation Sports which delivers award-winning sports coaching to over 10,000 children across 300 schools.

Foundation Sports has been caring for children in breakfast and after-school clubs for over 20 years.

A spokesman for the organisation said: “With this successful track record, the organisation is thrilled to be instrumental is reviving a piece of its home borough’s history while introducing its sports training to a new generation of children.”

Tony Charles, director of Foundation Sports said he is excited to be giving a new lease of life to this long-neglected piece of land.

He said: “I am honoured to have this opportunity to be able to increase the provision of sports participation for young people in the borough.”

To celebrate the site opening, Foundation Sports plans to offer free football coaching from September 2018.

To register your child or to be kept up to date on developments, click here.