Information on Loughborough

Work Progressing on Sports Ground Plans

Posted on 04/03/2009

WORK is progressing on a multi-million pound project to redevelop the Nanpantan Sports Ground.

The 22-acre site, which is owned by Charnwood Borough Council, is home to Loughborough Dynamo Football Club, Loughborough Outwoods Cricket Club, Brush Bowls Club and Charnwood Lawn Tennis Club and has eight tennis courts, three cricket pitches, one stadium football pitch, three senior football pitches, three mini football pitches and a bowls green.

All the clubs are backing the redevelopment of the site, which will see the demolition of the current buildings, two new state-of-the-art pavilions created, new signage put up and the car-parking improved at a cost of around £2.5m to £3m.

Charnwood Borough Council has allocated £450,000 towards the project which is being used to assess the safety of buildings on the site, carry out any initial repairs and make bids to sporting bodies for funding.

The Council is currently working on applications to Sport England, the Football Foundation, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and English Bowls Association (EBA) for money to help fund the scheme.

It is hoped that the project will be completed by summer 2010.

Cllr Peter Lewis, Charnwood Borough Councils Cabinet member for Leisure, said: "There have been long delays and set backs over the future of Nanpantan Sports Ground.

"This isnt just a sports ground. It is a major contributor to the landscape and an entrance for many walkers to the Outwoods and Jubilee Wood. Its a place of true communal value.

"Borough finances are tight and weve had to prioritise. Nanpantan Sports Ground, with its potential to attract additional funding and interest from national organisations, and the sense of ownership and pride it offers local people, means its one of our very top projects.

"Its hugely exciting for everyone involved.

To find out more about Nanpantan Sports Ground, log on to www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/nanpantansportsground