The Football Foundation has made a £1m grant for a project in Braintree, Essex.

The grant has been made to enable the development of sports facilities at Spinks Lane in the Witham area.

Braintree District Council is also contributing £1m towards the construction of a new floodlit artificial pitch, with pavilion comprising 12 changing rooms, officials’ rooms and a meeting room, along with additional car parking.

The facilities will replace an existing pitch and pavilion adjacent to the Bramstone Sports Centre and John Bramstone School which will benefit from the pitch, as well as an adult education centre currently under construction.

Work on the pitch is due to commence in July, for completion in November 2006, ahead of the pavilion second phase, due to be finished in May 2007.