Partner Article

ISG preferred contractor for Manchester sports village

Major construction services company ISG has been chosen to deliver the development of the Belle Vue Sports Village in East Manchester.

ISG, who will work with AFL Architects on the new facility, has been appointed as preferred contractor for the development through a competition tender via the North West Construction Hub (NWCH) and marks a major pre-planning milestone for the works.

Manchester City Council, in partnership with Belle Vue Aces Speedway and England Basketball, is preparing the project’s planning application to be submitted ‘within months’.

The £10 million development will become a sporting hub for the area, adding to the world class facilities already in place in East Manchester. The news Sports Village will become the national home of speedway racing and basketball.

The proposals include a new national speedway stadium and academy that will be the home of the Belle Vue Aces team, as well as a new all-weather football/hockey pitch, the national basketball centre, a new rugby pitch and high quality improvements to the existing fitness and leisure facilities.

The £4.5 million building costs for the speedway stadium will be initially funded by the city council, with a loan to be repaid by Belle Vue Aces through an annual rent under the club’s lease agreement.

The speedway venue will have a capacity of 6,500, with potential for extra temporary seating for larger events. The aim will be to host national fixtures, and to compete with the best tracks in Europe for Grand Prix and World Cup events, which could attract up to 80,000 visitors to Manchester.

Cllr Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Of course there is still some way to go, planning and beyond, but we welcome the experience of ISG to deliver the development.”

ISG’s Alan McCarthy-Wyper, managing director, construction, commented: “We are delighted to be working closely with all key stakeholders to realise the vision of this important regional development.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .