Work Commences on New Sportshall

Construction has started on a new £3.8 million extension to the Sportspark, funded by the University, with completion due in February 2009. This will make the Sportspark probably the largest community sports facility in Britain! A new indoor sports hall is being built adjacent to the existing Barclays Arena. This hall has a very flexible layout. It can have 8 badminton courts or four basketball training courts or four volleyball courts. Design features from the Arena such as the sprung wooden floor compact fluorescent lighting and tinted block work will be incorporated. A link will be made between the Barclays Arena and the new building at both ground floor and gallery level. Toilets will be provided in the lobby area. On the ground floor there will be new storage areas and, subject to planning approval, two teaching rooms that open onto the hall. The University is expanding the range of sports courses it offers with two new undergraduate degrees starting in September 2008. During the day the new hall will provide teaching space for these courses as well as additional recreational space for students and the community. Evening programming will include time solely for badminton and times allocated to the development of both basketball and volleyball for all ages. The University will be investing in specialist community coaches to run introductory courses, establish clubs and promote leagues and tournaments in these sports. At weekends the additional space will help meet the growing demand from national and regional governing bodies of sport for high quality venues for championships. Generally construction will take place without interrupting normal use of the Sportspark. There will be a need early in the development to remove the existing internal staircase to enable a link to be made between the buildings. We will inform customers when this work will take place and take all possible steps to minimise any inconvenience.