FWP masterplans £1.6m sports hub

A £1.6m community sports hub has been unveiled by Preston-headquartered Frank Whittle Partnership (FWP).

The Chester masterplan has been drawn up by the firm’s sports design specialists and is being presented to the fans and public before the season ends.

Chester FC Community Trust chose FWP to design football pitches and training facilities on a site in the city.

The scheme will include a new full size floodlit 3G pitch, improvement of the existing grass pitches, a new clubhouse with changing rooms and community facilities, refurbishment of the existing pavilion to include an education suite and additional car parking and access to the site.

Nick Wiley, associate partner at FWP, said: “The sports hub will provide much needed facilities for grassroots clubs and leagues in Chester, as well as delivering wider community benefits including improved health and wellbeing, increased participation in sport and new employment and education opportunities.

“In all our sports sector work our aim is to deliver real value for sport, leisure and entertainment for the whole of the local community, with real benefits for clubs and their supporters.”

Jim Green, chief executive of Chester FC Community Trust, said: “This is a hugely exciting project and will create an outstanding sports facility in the heart of the Chester community.”

FWP has successfully advised more than 80 sports clubs across the UK on their redevelopment and modernisation plans with many of them going on to design and build modern new facilities.

Championship club Preston North End’s Deepdale ground was led by FWP and National League club AFC Fylde’s Mill Farm ground on the Fylde coast is another award-winning project from the FWP team.

FWP is also working with Scunthorpe United to design a 12,000 capacity all-seater stadium for the Football League club.

It has created facilities for Fleetwood Town, Peterborough United and Oldham Athletic and is developing stadia and community assets for clubs such as Leamington, Forest Green Rovers and 1874 Northwich.