The academy, at Aldershot Park, could open its doors some time during autumn 2008. It is all part of a bid to get people to be healthier.

Facilities would include a full-sized artificial grass football pitch, three floodlit five-a-side artificial grass pitches and a full-sized grass pitch.

Mini and junior pitches are also included in the plans along with a sports and health centre.

Under the plans Aldershot Park’s playground could also be upgraded, if sufficient funding is found, and extra car parking would also be provided.

If funding for the new centre is secured it could provide a new home for the PA Knights, an American football club which has been looking to relocate from Guildford to the Aldershot area.

Most of the club’s players live in Rushmoor but, due to a lack of pitches for games, the team has played at the University of Surrey’s Varsity Sports Centre for the past five years.

To make life easier for parents there will be a creche so they can visit the new health advice clinic, fitness centre, physiotherapy room and social area without worrying about babysitters.

New services would include advice on parenting, stopping smoking, postnatal depression and cardiac rehabilitation.

The new facilities would be close to Aldershot Cricket Club, Aldershot Pools complex, Rushmoor Gymnastics Academy and the Connaught Leisure Centre.

And it is hoped the new academy and its proximity to neighbouring sports clubs will encourage families to be more active.

The project would mean swimming, cycling, gymnastics, trampolining, football, cricket, rugby, angling, American football, jogging, fitness training, martial arts, badminton, basketball, walking, aerobics, dance, table tennis and tennis would all be provided close by.

Earlier this year it was revealed there could even be surfing through plans to increase use of the lido swimming pool.

One of the ideas put forward was the installation of special wave machines, recently tested in America, which simulate surf waves from around the world.

If funding for the project and the plans are approved surfers could be visiting the outside pool to surf Hawaiian, Indonesian, Californian or Australian waves.

Cllr Diane Bedford, cabinet member for leisure and youth, said: “The aim of the Aldershot Park Sports Academy will be to encourage healthier lifestyles for everyone through partnerships with outdoor sports clubs and the Primary Care Trust.

“Increasing physical activity helps to reduce obesity and heart disease.

“People also find it improves the way they look and feel.

“With a balanced diet, regular activity can help people to maintain a healthy weight. It reduces the risk of depression and can even boost self-confidence.

“This is an exciting project and although there is a lot of hard work and co-operation needed from others to bring it to fruition, it will be a fabulous asset for the borough if we can make it happen.”

Under the plans it is hoped that the project would be funded by grants from a number of sports organisations and Rushmoor Borough Council.

If all of the funding is not secured the plans could be scaled down but councillors at a meeting of council cabinet agreed to provide £20,000 for the academy’s new sports and health centre to be designed.

If plans go ahead, the council would provide a further £600,000 and it is hoped a further £560,000 would come from contributions by local developers as conditions of their planning permissions.