THE new Community Sports Hub, to be located on the outskirts of Hailsham, has received a grant of £3.5 million from the Premier League, The FA and the government’s Football Foundation.
Construction on the new Hub is expected to start this autumn and be completed by 2026. The construction of the build has been appointed to Sunninghill Construction.
Wealden District Council has been working with the Football Foundation, a charity which delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, on the plans and construction of the new Community Sports Hub.
The Hub will provide new facilities in the district and offer other sports and community facilities which can be used all year-round.
The funding has been awarded to the council through the Football Foundation’s Hubs Programme, which has already seen over 20 multi-pitch Hubs delivered across the country.
As part of the funding agreement, the site will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by the charity, Leisure United and managed by The National Football Trust. Leisure United currently operates 18 sites across the country. It will be a new partnership arrangement involving the council and any surplus income generated from the facility will be reinvested into local grassroots sports.
The state-of-the art Hub will consist of two floodlit full size 3G pitches, four dual use floodlit netball/tennis courts and two padel tennis courts plus other community facilities such as a café and meeting space, skate park, a children’s play area and a perimeter pathway around the site – that will provide opportunities for all residents to participate in sports, health and wellbeing, and leisure activities.
Throughout the process, the council has engaged with a range of partners including sport’s governing bodies, local sports clubs and a public consultation event was held to help shape and inform the facilities at the site.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health, Wellbeing and Asset Management, said: “I am delighted to hear that the Football Foundation has awarded the council £3.5 million in grant funding. This award follows many months of working with the Football Foundation, local clubs and our communities and strengthens our relationship and highlights the importance of having this type of facility within Wealden. The funding will be used to provide residents throughout the district with high-quality sports amenities and allow them to become more active by participating in a variety of different activities and sports.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.
“This grant award to Wealden council towards developing a new Hub is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”
