Member Article

£18m Sports Village gets the go-ahead

A new Sports Village for Middlesbrough costing £18m has been given the go-ahead.

The Middlesbrough Sports Village – with an initial £18m investment – will replace some of Middlesbrough’s older sports facilities, creating a first-class complex for both mainstream and specialist sports.

The ambition is for a major regional centre of excellence offering a broad mix of sporting and leisure opportunities in an outstanding setting off Marton Road which is already home to the Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit and Prissick Skate Plaza.

Key elements of the first phase include an athletics field and stadium featuring 400m track, enhanced and extended indoor tennis courts and improved outdoor courts, 75-station gym and studios, full-size flood-lit artificial turf pitch (ARP) and small-sized ATPs and grass football pitches.

Mayor Mallon said that on the back of the Olympics the Sports Village was “the perfect legacy”.

“What’s wrong with wanting a top class sporting facility in Middlesbrough?” he said during a speech before Middlesbrough Council’s Executive.

“Why should we as a town want second best? That’s been the case on some occasions in the past, that’s been the case on some occasions since I have been mayor.

“This town has got to have aspirations - it’s good to think big. This could be a top class sports complex that will be the envy of the country, not just the North.”

Work is due to start in the new year subject to planning approval.

Under the plans, the ageing Clairville Stadium site will close, with the land sold for housing and other commercial uses.

The development will feature a dedicated link road from Ladgate Lane which will reduce traffic congestion on Marton Road and help with access and parking issues at The James Cook University Hospital.

The overall masterplan also incorporates the development of approximately 360 family homes on the former Prissick Depot, Tennis World, Ashdale PRU and Brackenhoe East School sites.

Future phases of the development could see the creation of swimming facilities, a major sports hall, an outdoor velodrome and mountain bike/BMX track.

Planning consultation for the Sports Village will start later this month, with work on site schedule to start in the spring.

It’s hoped the athletics track and temporary changing will be in place by October, 2014, with the first phase of the development due for completion the following May.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .