Plans to progress the development of a proposed community grassroots football and sport hub on Derby Racecourse will be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting.
The proposed Hub would seek to address the shortfall in the city’s football pitch provision and would include the development of three new full-size 3G football turf pitches (FTPs) on the site, as well as the refurbishment of an existing FTP and a new changing pavilion including a community café and meeting space. In addition to the improved pitch provision, the Hub development would include increased parking spaces as well as improved entry and exit to the site.
Derby City Council’s Cabinet are looking to approve a total budget of £11.902m to enable the development to kick off, with funding proposed from the Council alongside a pending funding decision from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.
The pitch works would be delivered by a specialist contractor of the Football Foundation while the pavilion and car park aspects would be delivered by Alliance Leisure with plans for work to start onsite in Spring 2023.
Will Gardner, Alliance Leisure business development manager, said: “We’re delighted to be coordinating this project that brings together lots of partners to provide a first-class facility for the local community.”
Councillor Jerry Pearce, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Spaces and Leisure, said: “This project is a worthy investment for the Council and will give our communities the grassroots football facilities they deserve. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the Football Hub take shape over the coming months.”
A decision will be made on the plans at February’s Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 15 February.
