Multi-million pound plans to transform a football club's stadium have been given the green light.

Bosses at Ashford United have been granted permission to revamp at the team's Homelands Stadium in Kingsnorth.

The application submitted to Ashford Borough Council last year saw permission requested to extend and refurbish the clubhouse and build a new changing facilities block.

It also seeks to replace the artificial 3G pitch, which is at the end of its expected lifespan, and install an additional one for training.

Bosses say the scheme is designed to "meet the current and growing needs of the club and the 20-plus teams that regularly use the site".

They say it will also provide the facilities required "to allow the club to meet ground requirements for promotion to higher football leagues".

While an exact timeline and budget are yet to be confirmed, a spokesman for the club said it was expected to take place in the "next couple of years" and cost several million pounds.

The existing clubhouse includes changing facilities for home and away teams and match officials, physio rooms, spectator toilet facilities, offices, function rooms, bars, kitchen facilities and storage.

The extension, approved by council planning officers, will wrap around the outside of the current building and transform the interior, giving a new look to the stadium both outside and inside.

It will include a new supporters' area, including a bar and restaurant with views over the new pitch – allowing spectators to watch matches from inside if they wish.

The pitch will also be replaced and enlarged slightly to fall into FIFA 3G regulations.

A grass training field next to the main pitch, which is not currently in use due to the "unsafe, uneven surface," will be transformed into a 3G training pitch.

It is hoped the plans will allow the club to cater for different spectators' needs, and make Homelands an "accessible, inclusive and sustainable" stadium.

Last year, permission was granted to build 10 start-up business units and revamp a separate part of the stadium.

In the past decade about £750,000 has been spent on improving the site, which is also home to Kennington FC and provides playing facilities for other community sides.

In August, the Nuts and Bolts, who play in the Isthmian South East league, were forced to postpone a game against Sevenoaks after officials weren't able to get the club's 3G pitch certified in time.

But owner Don Crosbie spent £6,000 getting the surface up to scratch and the efforts paid off when it passed a retest.

Reacting to the stadium plans being approved, Mr Crosbie said: “We would like to thank the local authority and the architect for all their support on this application and we look forward to moving this exciting scheme forward.

"We welcome the decision by Ashford Borough Council to grant the club all permissions and now look forward to the next steps."