Exciting steps have been made in getting more 3G pitches for West Norfolk, as one at a Lynn secondary school has been given the go-ahead.

King’s Lynn Academy now has the green light to develop its project further next year and make a submission for national Football Foundation funding.

There will be separate dedicated sessions for school and public use as part of the new pitch.

In October, it was announced that the secondary school will get a 300-student expansion, with construction work taking off.

West Norfolk Council put forward its preferred project to get national funding for the new 3G pitch, with hopefully more sites coming in the future.

Earlier this year, the council, Norfolk County FA and Football Foundation started to identify three sites for pitches where there is currently a shortfall.

These were in Lynn, Downham and the West Lynn, Terrington and Clenchwarton area.

Several other proposed sites also scored well. However, these proposals are at an early stage, not yet ready to be put forward, according to the borough council.

The organisations behind these sites now have an opportunity to undertake further project development and identify the partnership funding required, so they can be considered again.

King’s Lynn Academy is part of the Eastern Multi Academy Trust, and Paul Shanks, CEO, said: “We are thrilled for King’s Lynn Academy and the wider community that the academy has been selected as the preferred site for a new 3G pitch.

“The academy is undergoing significant investment through its current expansion, and this project will secure a vital facility for both the school and community groups.

“We look forward to seeing the project progress and welcoming the wider community to our academy.”

Deputy leader of West Norfolk Council, Simon Ring, added: “We are fully committed to tackling the shortage and addressing the demand for 3G pitches in the borough, working with local organisations, Norfolk County FA and the Football Foundation, to help boost local sport, health and wellbeing opportunities for our communities.

“I am very pleased this independent evaluation has identified our first project, which is ready to go forward for national funding for a 3G pitch.

“This will be a great benefit for the public and the school. There is still Football Foundation funding available for our area, and I really hope some of the organisations in Downham and the West Lynn area will develop their projects further and get back in touch.

“In the meantime, we look forward to supporting King’s Lynn Academy with the next stage of their funding submission, and I would like to thank everyone who has engaged in this positive process so far.”