Daventry Town Football Club has been granted a new 25-year lease by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in a move designed to help the club secure investment for a new artificial pitch.

Cabinet members approved the long-term lease for the land at Browns Road during a meeting on Wednesday (July 16), replacing the club's existing agreement, which was due to run until 2038.

The club approached the council requesting a longer lease because many external funding providers require leases of at least 21 or 25 years before considering investment.

The new agreement will allow Daventry Town FC to seek funding for a third-generation (3G) artificial pitch, estimated to cost around £600,000.

The council said it would not normally negotiate a new lease so far in advance of the existing one expiring. However, it agreed to accept the surrender of the current lease because of the wider community benefits the project would bring.

The new lease will be subject to the club securing any necessary planning permission and successfully completing the installation of the artificial pitch.

Councillor John Slope, WNC's cabinet member for finance and resources, said: "West Northamptonshire Council actively promotes health and wellbeing, and this initiative will support the development of the local sporting provision for the benefit of local residents in Daventry.

"We will work with Daventry Town Football Club over the upcoming months to finalise the arrangements for the lease."

Councillor Kamala Guliyeva, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said the football club played an important role in the community.

She added: "Daventry Town Football Club is valued by the local community, and I am delighted West Northamptonshire Council has been able to support an extension on their lease so they can seek investment for improved sporting facilities.

"The club actively promotes health and wellbeing, particularly for those under the age of 18 through its junior football teams, and the creation of a new artificial pitch will help them support many more young people in the years to come."

The current annual rent for the Browns Road site is £5,200.