DUNFERMLINE Athletic have submitted plans for a new 3G astroturf pitch at their training ground.

The club bought the former Rosyth Civil Service Sports Club on Castle Road last year and is seeking permission from Fife Council to lay an all-weather surface.

Local teams will also be able to hire the pitch, which will have the FIFA Quality Pro mark given to artificial surfaces that ensure the highest playing performance for professional-level football.

The Pars' planning agent, Sports Labs Ltd, worked on the designs with the SFA and said: "The development will see a new full-size 3G pitch which will be of great benefit to the community.

"This will allow all teams affiliated with the club to play and train at the facility without the concern of wearing out the grass, particularly during inclement weather."

The 3G surface will replace an existing natural grass pitch and, as part of the redevelopment, the bowling green will also disappear and the car park will be extended.

The new playing surface will be 105 metres x 68 metres and surrounded by a 1.2m-high perimeter fence, rising to five metres behind both goals.

There will be six floodlighting columns, each 15 metres in height, and the type chosen should have a "low impact on the surrounding areas" in terms of light pollution and glare.

The proposed operating hours, open to 10pm on weekdays and 9pm at weekends, will ensure the community have "access to high-level sport facilities" when not in use by the Pars.

Dunfermline will base their first-team squad, youth academy and the Pars Foundation – the charity that runs the club's community programme – at Rosyth.

As well as the new astroturf pitch, the training ground will have two full-size grass pitches, warm-up and goalkeeper areas, an education and analysis auditorium, changing rooms and showers, offices and meeting rooms; a kit room, laundry and boot room; an indoor sports hall, kitchen and an eating and rest area.

The club's strength and conditioning gym, which is currently at East End Park, will also move to Rosyth.

Sports Labs said that, given the pitch location and previous site history, the proposed new drainage system would be of the "utmost importance".

Sustainability measures will also see the club try to prevent the 'migration of the pitch's microplastic infill' – the tiny black pellets that always seem to find their way into your boots and, subsequently, your home after you've played on astro – and also stop it getting into the drainage system.

In their summary, the Livingston-based planning agent said: "The new facility will provide a new all-weather use pitch, allowing increased participation, expansion and development of local teams, strengthening links already in place with local sports teams.

"Given there is currently a natural grass sports pitch in this location, this proposal simply enhances this and provides a better offering to the local area.

"The proposal would not result in an unacceptable impact to any residential amenity."