Leisure Box nominated for global award

Burnley FC in the Community is thrilled to announce that its Brierfield-based community leisure facility, The Leisure Box, has been nominated for the Community Project Award at TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards 2019.

Now in its ninth year, TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards have been launched to recognise leadership, innovation and achievement in the design, development, construction and refurbishment of major sports venue facilities globally.

One of only two UK-based organisations to be nominated in the Community Project category, the award looks to recognise the design and delivery of a community-focused sports venue project or major capital enhancement. The Leisure Box has been nominated alongside venues as far afield as the USA, Italy and Japan.

The Leisure Box opened in March 2019 and, to date, has welcomed over 29,000 visitors through its doors. The 133,000 square feet space was designed by Liberata Architects and the build was carried out and completed by Barnfield Construction.

Inclusive of an indoor 4G pitch, a sports hall, a climbing area, a Kids’ Play area and a dance studio, the facility has also recently been nominated for Community Initiative of the Year at the Northwest Football Awards.

Neil Hart, chief executive officer at Burnley FC in the Community, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated for a global award for The Leisure Box facility.

“The space was an empty shell when we agreed the deal to acquire it back in 2015; this nomination is recognition of the years of hard work that has brought us to where we are today – a thriving, colourful facility for the whole community to benefit from.

“As a client of both Liberata Architects and Barnfield Construction, we enjoyed a fabulous experience working collaboratively with them. I also extend my thanks to our partners and funders the Sutton Pendle Charitable Trust, the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund administered by the Football Foundation, Sport England, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Pendle Borough Council and PEARL (Pendle Enterprise and Regeneration Ltd).

Ian Nuttall, founder of TheStadiumBusiness, said: “The Awards is about celebrating the professionals involved in the delivery of the next generation of stadia. For the last nine years, we have honoured some of the world’s top venues and this year will be no exception.”

Winners will be announced during TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit 2019 in London from 26th to 27th November 2019.

To find out more about The Leisure Box, please visit www.theleisurebox.org.