A new centre of excellence for tennis is being planned to boost the sport in Norfolk and help inspire some of the potential stars of the future.The £2m project would see eight new indoor courts created at Easton College, some with spectator areas and all built to high performance standards.

A new centre of excellence for tennis is being planned to boost the sport in Norfolk and help inspire some of the potential stars of the future.

The £2m project would see eight new indoor courts created at Easton College, some with spectator areas and all built to high performance standards.

The joint initiative with the Norfolk Lawn Tennis Association will help thrust the county to the forefront of combined playing and educational opportunities.

And it will help the ambitions of rising stars keen to become the next Andrew Murray of the tennis circuit - as well as making courts available to the public.

South Norfolk District Council has already given detailed planning approval for the project and work on the first phase could start early in the new year.

The Norfolk Centre of Excellence in Tennis is being backed both by the national Lawn Tennis association and Norfolk LTA, with both prepared to help meet the costs.

Scope for future expansion is likely to be built into the new centre.

Easton College principal David Lawrence said he was thrilled by the opportunities created in the new initiative with the LTA.

“The partnership will provide outstanding tennis facilities for Norfolk as well as creating a significant opportunity for talented young tennis players to continue studying whilst receiving top level coaching in outstanding facilities,” he said.

“We are very keen to expand our relationships with tennis performance coaches.”

Tony Edelsten, president of Norfolk LTA, said “We are delighted that we are making good progress to providing some excellent county facilities that can be made widely available to LTA affiliated clubs and individuals.

“The very positive relationship with Easton College, near the centre of Norfolk, can result in resources and educational opportunities in tennis that many other counties can only aspire to.”

The centre will be available to all LTA affiliated clubs, performance coaches, and for public pay and play use. It will mean Easton College can develop its sports curriculum to include a variety of courses including those for high performance players.

For further information contact David Lawrence at Easton College, 01603 731200.

News release issued on behalf of Easton College by Roy Strowger, of TMS Media. Contact 01493 662929.