Plans to create a state-of-the-art rugby facility in Tetbury 'that will ensure a lasting legacy for the town' has been given the green light.

Tetbury Rugby Football Club has revealed it has assumed legal ownership of Pike Field off Quercus Road.

The club has secured planning permission and has also agreed a deal with construction specialists McGurk Group to construct the new rugby facility on the 12-acre site which is currently unused.

The build will be delivered in three phases.

Phase one is the construction of two full-size RFU specification rugby pitches, a training/minis area, plus access roads and car parking.

Phase two will bring lighting to the pitches, and phase three will see a clubhouse added to the site.

A project committee made up of professionally qualified volunteers from the club’s membership has been working over the last 18 months to reach this stage, and phase one is expected to take two years to complete, with further work taking place after that.

Tetbury RFC chairman Roger Peill said: “After many years we are now finally able to realise our dream and create a first-class rugby facility, bringing together our large and growing membership of all ages, genders and abilities in one place.

“Our plan is to answer an immediate need, but also ensure a lasting legacy for the club and the town."

“I’d like to thank everyone that has been involved so far, in particular the land trustees who have ultimately made this possible.”

Currently, there are more than 600 members at the club, with rugby available from age five and up with the club situated on the Recreation Ground where senior and junior matches are played, with the Minis based at Sir William Romney School playing fields.

Eamonn and Brian McGurk of McGurk Group added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Tetbury RFC at this exciting point in their development. “We hope to bring our considerable construction capability and knowledge to the project and deliver a superb facility.

“It’s also part of our continued support of grassroots sport in Gloucestershire, something we are very passionate about.

“We are confident that Tetbury RFC is in safe hands as The McGurk Group commit to go above and beyond expectations and have excellent customer retention because of this.”

Construction work is set to begin in the next couple of months.