sport MCC backs revised Lord’s plans


Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced that it has decided to pursue a “stand-by-stand” redevel- opment of the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in St John’s Wood, London. Earlier this year, discus-


sions began with property group Almacantar with a view to a £400m redevelop- ment including a residential element at the Nursery End of the North London ground. However, the MCC has now


New £7.6m Redbridge sports hall to open


Redbridge Sports & Leisure will open the doors to its new £7.6m Sports Hall in January 2012. Construction work on the project – by Kier Eastern – has taken 12 months and the New Indoor Arena will fea- ture 12 badminton courts and two wellness Studios, a café and a 250-capacity Top Floor Sports and Corporate Hospitality venue. Redbridge Sports & Leisure provided


more than £2m for the project, with other funding coming from the Olympic Delivery Authority, Sport England, Mayors Legacy Fund and Badminton England.


Te cricket ground is set to be transformed on a “stand-by-stand” basis


agreed to focus on a phased overhaul of the venue, which it said is likely to start with the rebuilding of the Tavern and Allen stands at the Pavilion End. Te revised plans will now only include the club’s freehold land, with Lord’s major match allocation over the coming years giving the MCC the confi- dence to pursue the scheme. Once the new development plans are drawn up alongside a


“sustainable” business plan, the MCC plans to consult with the local community and plan- ning authorities. MCC chair Oliver Stocken said: “Te club


was awarded the Platinum Package of major matches by the ECB in September 2011, and that has provided the committee with the con- fidence to fund a redevelopment scheme.”


Bristol Rovers stadium moves step closer


Bristol Rovers Football Club (BRFC) has finalised the legal agreements for a pro- posed new stadium with the University of West England (UWE) and supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. A 20,000-seat ground with


“extensive” club shop; a ban- queting and hospitality suite; a gym; and a jogging track is to be built on land near the university’s Frenchay campus in Bristol. Teaching space for the university and a conve- nience store will also form part of the Arturus-designed project, in addition to a Sainsbury’s superstore at the club’s existing Memorial Ground site. Plans for the new stadium and supermar-


ket will be submitted to South Gloucestershire Council to Bristol City Council, following a


Te initiative aims to establish an athletics legacy


SIV announces Sheffield athletics legacy scheme


Sheffield International Venues (SIV) has announced the launch of its new athletics scheme, which it hopes will help estab- lish a legacy for the sport across the South Yorkshire city. Athletics Unlimited is part of a long-term


SIV strategy to increase participation in the sport and aims to build on the achievements of young elite performers from Sheffield. Te scheme will offer unlimited access to


athletics facilities at the English Institute of Sport and the Don Valley Stadium, both of which are venues operated by SIV.


Te new stadium will be built on land close to UWE’s Frenchay campus


consultation in early 2012. In addition to pro- viding a new home stadium for the npower League Two club, Bristol Rugby Club has also been offered the opportunity to relocate to the venue when complete.


Wakefield Wildcats stadium inquiry gets underway


A public inquiry has now commenced in order to explore proposals for Wakefield Wildcats rugby league team’s new stadium development at Newmarket, West Yorkshire. Te plans were called in last December, with the two-week inquiry to now hear arguments


© CYBERTREK 2011


in favour and against the 12,000-capacity sta- dium and community sports facilities. Following the inquiry, a report will be sub-


mitted to communities secretary Eric Pickles for a final decision as to whether the develop- ment can proceed in 2012.


Twitter: @leisureopps


North Country Leisure appoints new chair


Following the retirement of long stand- ing chair and founding member David Tompson this summer, leisure charity NCL has appointed a new chair, Chris Roberts, to head up its sport and leisure manage- ment services across Northumberland. Roberts has been a Trustee of NCL since


its inception in 1999 and has previously been responsible for the management of sports facilities and community sports activities for both Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council between 1980 and 2000.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 3


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