Kilmarnock have been given the green light to start work on its new training facility.

The club has confirmed that following a meeting with East Ayrshire Council this morning, planning permission has been granted for the construction of Bowie Park Training Centre.

Plans for the training ground were initially unveiled at the end of 2022.

However, works getting underway have been subject to various delays until now.

A spokesperson said: "Following this Morning’s Planning Committee meeting at East Ayrshire Council HQ, we are delighted to announce the planning permission has been granted for the Bowie Park Training Centre.

"We aim to start work within the next month, more updates will follow in due course. Thanks to TH Architects, Will Rudd (Rudd Consult), EastAyrshire and everyone who helped us on the project thus far."

Killie's return to a grass pitch ahead of the 2025/26 season is dependent on the completion of the training ground before that point. Rugby Park has had an artificial surface since the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign.

The centre will be named 'The Bowie Park Training Facility', with the highly successful Ayrshire businessman, Billy Bowie - majority shareholder of Killie - funding it.

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The proposal for the site includes two five-a-side and two full-size pitches – one with an accompanying 500-seat stand – alongside a two-floor training facility building which features a gym, changing rooms, canteen/seminar room, offices and a players’ lounge.

The proposed site is located East of the A77 between Kilmarnock and Crookedholm.

“Bringing first-team training back into the local area at Rugby Park has been integral in strengthening the connection between the team and our community in recent years," Bowie previously commented. "The next stage of our vision is to build a bespoke training facility, at the heart of our homeland, where our first-team and academy squads can develop side-by-side on a daily basis.

“The facility will lay the foundations to continue the club’s long-term growth, from grassroots level upwards, to ensure that we’re consistently progressing in the top-flight of Scottish football, in addition to competing in European competitions on a regular basis in years to come.”