A MULTI-MILLION pound project to regenerate part of Bexley is in the pipeline.

Thamesmead has few community facilities to its name but this looks set to change with a £4m sports centre proposed for the north of the town.

Trust Thamesmead is looking to knock down Thamesmead Town Football Club and build an all-inclusive sports club in its place.

The existing football club on Bayliss Avenue only has enough space for its first team to train. Younger members have to practice in Crossways Park.

The new club, on track to be up and running by 2009, will provide two football pitches, including one third generation floodlit synthetic pitch with an overlooking spectators area.

Two new courts for ball sports such as basketball, tennis and netball are also planned to allow local community groups and schools to use the facilities.

The site will remain the home of Thamesmead Town FC, and it is hoped the new facilities will help secure the future of a football club who have done so well this season already.

Chief executive of Trust Thamesmead, Nick Hayes, said: “We want to improve the community infrastructure of Thamesmead and this is our first project.

“At the moment the town is a massive housing development with no community facilities. It is one of the 10 per cent most deprived areas in terms of access to community services.

“Thamesmead has the largest youth population in Bexley so a lot of our focus is around young people.

“We want to promote amateur sport and bring people through the coaching ranks right from the age of seven.”

The project is currently going through the planning processes at Bexley Council before the Trust can apply to the Football Foundation for a £1m investment.

The Trust will also be asking its board this Thursday, November 8, to front a further £2m.