£20 million support for Southampton’s Outdoor Sports Centre (Levelling Up Fund 2)
Southampton was allocated £20 million from the Levelling Up Fund for improvements to Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre.
Improving access to sport in Southampton
Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre opened in 1938 with the objective of promoting health and becoming an outstanding asset to the town. Since then, the 150-acre centre has provided space for local people and sports teams to use for a variety of activities. Levelling Up funding will support a wide of range of improvements to the centre that will ensure it can be used for generations to come.
The improvements include:
- a new hub with changing facilities, a gym, café, multi-function rooms, indoor tennis and netball courts
- 3 new floodlit artificial football pitches, in addition to the 7 existing grass pitches
- upgrades to the two existing all-weather hockey pitches to improve lighting and storage facilities
- upgrades to Alpine Snowsports with a new ski lodge, learner slope, varied slopes, new lifts and resurfacing
- transformation of the family zone with a new play area, skateboard area and pump track
- upgrades to the 4 cricket pitches with improved drainage and artificial wickets
- new cycling facilities at cyclo-cross, woodland bike trail and cross-site cycle routes
- car parking and EV charging points
Councillor Toqeer Kataria, Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure at Southampton City Council said:
The redevelopment of the Outdoor Sports Centre will provide many benefits for residents across the city, including employment opportunities, and will dramatically increase opportunities for communities across the city to increase their level of physical activity.
The funding will enable the improvements to be made which improve the quality of life for residents in our city by providing inclusive access to sport and recreation, whilst supporting target groups to help tackle inequalities.
Levelling Up funding forms part of the £30 million scheme of improvements.
Find out more about the Outdoor Sports Centre Masterplan of improvements
Find out more about Levelling Up