Start date for major work to Southampton sports complex
£30m is being spent on the outdoor sports centre
It's hoped major works to improve Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre will start at the end of next summer.
£30m is being spent on the site in Bassett, benefiting hockey, football, cricket, netball, cycling and also the ski slope.
Car parking will be improved.
Morgan Sindall has been appointed as the contractor under a pre-construction services agreement to design and develop the ambitious improvements.
The appointment comes soon after the approval of the planning application to carry out the works to the sports centre.
The Outdoor Sports Centre will benefit from a range of improvements to the site, including:
- A Community Hub with, changing and refreshment facilities, a gym and an indoor tennis/netball hall
- New Alpine Snowsports Centre
- A Family Zone
- New Athletics Clubhouse and grandstand
- A woodland car park
- All weather and floodlit football pitches
- Upgrade of cricket and hockey pitches
- Improved facilities for cycling and walking and enhanced landscaping
The £30m project scope of the improvement plan has been included thanks to the council’s successful bid for £20m levelling up funding from central government which will support the regeneration for Southampton’s main venue for outdoor sports. External funding has been secured alongside the council’s capital funding.
The Outdoor Sports Centre remains open for business for people to visit and enjoy. Whilst works are ongoing in 2024, the sports centre will be open as much as possible, allowing for people to still use the facilities at the sports centre. There will be disruption during the works which are anticipated to begin late summer 2024.
Councillor Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council said:
“It’s fantastic news that we are working with Morgan Sindall to deliver on the Outdoor Sports Centre project. Morgan Sindall have a proven track record on delivering project schemes in partnership with us, which are now award winning for their social impact.
The regeneration plans, match-funded by central Government, to our much-loved and popular Outdoor Sports Centre, mean we can help put Southampton on the map, with state-of-the-art facilities and hosting regional and national competitions. It will also significantly help improve health inequalities often felt by our most deprived communities, and create many new jobs and opportunities for local people.”
Cliff Kinch, Area Director for Morgan Sindall, said:
“We are incredibly proud to play our part in improving the health and wellbeing of people in Southampton by delivering a state-of-the-art outdoor sports centre which will breathe fresh life into the city and encourage untold numbers of people to stay fit and active.
“On the back of the success of St Mark’s School in Southampton, it’s great that we’ll be able to continue our fantastic work in the area with the same project team. We can’t wait to help the council deliver on its promise of creating such an inclusive, outstanding asset that will benefit everyone in the community now and for years to come.”