The British Judo Association has unveiled plans for a new £5m performance institute in Dartford, Kent.

The centre – which would be built as an extension to the existing Dartford Judo Club – would feature access to the current mat areas, as well as an additional matted room for focused coaching and sport science work, a high performance gym and rehab area, a coach planning facility, a performance analysis suite, medical consultation and treatment rooms and staff offices.

Karen Roberts, British Judo’s world class operations manager, said: “The British Judo Performance Institute will be a hub of expertise within the system that can be drawn upon by all performance athletes and coaches.

“We have all seen the success of British teams in sports such as rowing, cycling, sailing, and in the last six months boxing, which have benefited from having a focused, centralised performance environment. It is a very exciting prospect for the future of high performance judo in the UK.”

Dartford Borough Council has already pledged its support and will provide land to the value of £1.5m, and contribute to the cost of consultants and architects fees.

Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, said: “Dartford Judo Club has become a beacon for elite players since the new dojo was created by Dartford Borough Council in 2006. Adding the national performance centre to the campus makes perfect sense and it opens up great opportunities for the local community as well as some of the best judo players in the world. In the run up to the 2012 games it will be great to think of Dartford as ‘judo town’."

Photograph: Mike Varey