An extension could be built onto a sports and community centre in Haverhill, amid increasing demand at the facility. 

Plans for a new single-storey side extension at The New Croft in Chalkstone Way, Haverhill, have been submitted to West Suffolk Council. 

Applicant Peter Betts, of the Haverhill Community Sports Association, which manages the building, has requested permission for an extension that would  provide an additional 140m² gross internal area in the building. 

A statement to the council said: "The extension is to provide additional flexible event space with toilets to provide much needed community space in response for an identified public need demonstrated through public consultation and review of their current facilities and business activities."

It continues: "The layout inside has been arranged so that the existing social room and the added new extension space can be connected into one large event space or divided up into 4 separate sections or less as required. This gives flexibility to allow for multiple users at one time." 

The New Croft site has a hall, bar area, meeting room, office, two 3G artificial pitches, a stadia natural turf pitch, one further 11v11 grass pitch and three 5v5 pitches.

Football facilities at the club are used by Haverhill Rovers and Haverhill Borough 1 senior team. 

It is also used to deliver recreational activities, walking football and pro club trust programmes.

The community space is used by Haverhill Rovers,  Jo Jingles Mother and toddler group, Slimming World and others.

The space is described as being "at absolute capacity" and the statement says various groups, clubs, and local people have therefore been unable to use the facilities, with nothing similar available.

The application states: "This proposed extension project will meet the needs of the local community and will support health and wellbeing, engagement, tackling loneliness as well as supporting local football clubs and users."