Work on a new, state-of-the-art sports facility in Wolverhampton has kicked off.

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Up to a dozen sports pitches are being created at the new £3 million centre on Barnhurst Lane, Pendeford, including senior, junior and mini-pitches. There will also be running and bike track and changing facilities.

Contractors from Cleveland Land Services have been on site since Monday 10 June, 2013, and are carrying out excavation work to create level ground for the 25 acre development.

Once these earthworks have been completed, under-pitch drainage will be installed before the grass is seeded this autumn.

Other work will take place in due course, including the creation of a car park, the installation of fencing and landscaping.

As well as pitches and new changing facilities linked to the adjacent Aldersley High School, which is undergoing a major refurbishment as part of Wolverhampton's Building Schools for the Future Programme, new café facilities at the school will be available for players and spectators alike.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities said: "I am delighted that work is progressing well on these state-of-the-art facilities.

"This is a huge investment in sport in our city, and these high quality facilities will have a major role to play in improving the health and well-being of the local population."

The plans were approved last year, and Wolverhampton City Council has been awarded a £450,000 grant from the Football Foundation to support the development.

The new facility forms a key part of the city council's £4 million Sport Development and Investment Strategy, which aims to improve sporting facilities in the city and encourage more residents to take part in physical activity.

The city council has also secured Sport England funding to create an artificial pitch at Our Lady and St Chad's School and Sports College which will replace an old pitch at the Jennie Lee Centre.

Meanwhile, artificial hockey and football pitches at Aldersley Leisure Village are undergoing £440,000 refurbishment thanks to funding from the city council and England Hockey, and repairs to the netball and tennis courts at Aldersley have been completed.

The city council is also looking to work in partnership with Staffordshire Cricket Ltd to carry out restoration works on the Newbridge Playing Fields, improving the facilities available on site for football and cricket.

  • released: Monday 1 July, 2013