MALVERN Town Football Club has been granted a new 25-year lease which will help it unlock a £1million investment in new facilities.

The club's plans for the future include expanding the number of junior, girls and women’s teams, training new and higher-level coaches and attracting better players to the first team.

But to do so, it needs to replace the grass playing surface with an artificial pitch and upgrade its changing facilities to FA standards.

Some £700,000 of grant funding from the Football Foundation is available but only if the club can prove it has a long-term lease on the HDanywhere Stadium at Langland Road to give it some certainty.

Malvern Hills District Council owns the ground after buying it in August 2014. Since then the club has been on short-term leases to allow it to finalise its plans.

At a council executive committee meeting on Tuesday, it was agreed to grant the 25-year lease which will not only release the grant funding, but also allow an application for another £250,000 linked to planning agreements, known as section 106 money.

The club will also raise £50,000 towards the project and the council will help with the design and build of the changing facilities revamp.

Off the pitch, the new agreement will allow the club to build on its range of community projects such as providing activities for young people, family fun days and holiday sport camps.

Cllr Paul Cumming, responsible for finance on the council, said: “The success of the England team at this summer’s World Cup has highlighted the positive power of football to us all.

"We’ve been very impressed by the hard work and dedication of those involved with Malvern Town FC and their plans for the future.

"The granting of this lease is a demonstration of this council’s commitment to investing in health and well-being across this district and giving our residents opportunities to take part in sport and be active.”

Club chairman Chris Pinder said: “From being effectively bankrupt in 2013 to gaining a 25-year lease on a brand-new £1m stadium in just five years is a gargantuan achievement.

"The club has been given incredible support from Malvern Hills District Council and the FA and I can’t wait to cut the ribbon alongside them to our brilliant new stadium in 2020.”