Major plans including new swimming pool, sports hall and football pitches unveiled for Sheffield
University pledges major new sports centre will be open to all
Plans for school swimming lessons and community access to a new multimillion pound sports facility - including a new swimming pool - have been unveiled.
Sheffield University has now submitted its planning application to Sheffield Council for a major new sports centre, including a state of the art swimming pool, outlining how the site will be made available to the wider public beyond the city’s students.
And the organisation is confirming it will be open the wider public as well as its students.
New details outlined in the plans include:
> The general public will have access
> Four small football pitches which will be built over will be replaced elsewhere on the site.
> A modern pool will have a floor that can be raised or lowered
> The pool comes at a time that the city has shortage.
> Spectator facilities for watching sport.
A planning statement drawn up by consultants Montagu Evans said: “The new sports centre will be accessible to the wider Sheffield community, including local residents, members of staff, local schools and sports clubs. The Proposed Development will significantly enhance sporting provision in central Sheffield.
“The new swimming pool will be used by local schools on a regular basis; currently it is anticipated that the new facility will accommodate approximately two school swimming sessions per weekday. ”
The plans for a new sports centre have come after the swimming pool at the current university sports centre, on Northumberland Road, near Broomhill, 2023, was closed due to safety concerns.
The new plans would see the entrance moved from the current position on Northumberland Road, to a site near the junction of Whitham Road and Northumberland Road, making the facility more visible.
Officials say they would be replacing ageing facilities and creating a central hub for sporting excellence.
The consultants report adds: “The Proposed Development will help meet identified shortfalls across a number of sports in the Sheffield region, particularly including swimming, the need for which has been exacerbated in the central Sheffield area since the 2023 closure of the swimming pool formerly located in the Goodwin North building.”
Officials say under the plans for the new centre, there would be no permanent loss of any sporting facilities, but during the construction phase of the development, it is expected there will be a temporary loss of the existing small-sided playing pitches and the 11-a-side pitch; But they will be replaced as part of the project.
Features described include a 10 lane, 25 metre swimming pool; sports hall, with flexible configurations for sports such as badminton, basketball, volleyball, futsal, and indoor hockey; a275-station fitness suite; and three dedicated studio spaces.
There will also be three squash courts; four flexible clinical and treatment rooms; an entrance terrace, spectator, social and foyer spaces; changing facilities; and administrative facilities.
The small football pitches would be built after the new centre is opened, on the site of the old building when it is finally demolished, to make sure there is continuity of indoor sports provision.
The university says there are other football pitches available in the meantime, and the consultants say it has been in touch with local alternative pitch providers in order to identify facilities that are able to accommodate the temporary loss of playing pitch provision.