SOUTHAMPTON Football Club has been given temporary planning permission to provide a new medical facility at its training ground on the edge of the New Forest.

The district council has approved an application relating to the Staplewood Campus at Parks Farm in Long Lane, Marchwood.

The application said: "Planning permission is sought for a single-storey modular building for use as a medical centre.

"The new improved facility will enable SFC to treat players at the training ground, enabling a rapid response to injuries as they occur, which aides recovery in a number of instances."

A report to district councillors said: "The proposal is to provide an ancillary facility for the existing authorised use of the site as a football club training ground and is considered acceptable in principle.

"The application proposes a single-storey, flat-roofed building that is to be sited to the rear of an existing building within the site.

"There are a number of mature trees which provide a degree of natural screening."

The report said the modular construction and utilitarian appearance of the facility would not complement the architectural style of other buildings on the site.

But it added: "The proposal is for a temporary period of three years only to meet an immediate need for an additional ancillary medical facility.

"The proposal would not lead to an intensification of the use but would provide improved facilities for the existing use.

"Consequently it is considered the provision of the proposed modular building for medical use would not result in undue impacts on the amenity of neighbouring residential occupiers."