Work starts on FWP-designed community and sports hub

29 Feb 2024

FWP Hub

Work is underway to create a vibrant new multi-million pound sports, leisure and community centre in Gloucester designed by FWP.

The Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub will serve the Podsmead area of the city, bringing the community closer together and improving the wellbeing of young people.

Gloucester based construction firm EG Carter has been appointed to deliver the scheme and work has now started on site.

Leading architecture, design and masterplanning practice FWP’s green vision for the community-owned development seamlessly connects its sports areas with the natural environment.

The scheme will provide a stylish two-story community sports hub building with changing facilities, function rooms, gym spaces, community offices, youth working zones and studio spaces.

The community will also benefit from a floodlit 3G full-size football pitch, two full-size football fields and a cricket field, along with extensive landscaping.

FWP carried out the design work for the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (www.blackbridge.org.uk). The hub will be created for the community group on a site that is part of existing playing fields.

As well as architectural design, the multi-disciplinary practice will provide project management, quantity surveying, CDM co-ordination, mechanical and electrical engineering, and structural engineering on the project.

Brad Grime, FWP Senior Associate, said: “We’re delighted that work has begun on a development that will be a massive asset to the local community.

“What we have created will give people access to a wider range of sport, health and leisure activities and offer inviting spaces for social events.

“Our aim has been to secure the site’s continued long-term viable and sustainable use as a mixed-use sports, leisure and social asset by creating an attractive and welcoming complex.

“Once completed the hub will be a place where sports, leisure and community activities flourish and it will play an important role in the health and wellbeing of young people in the district.”

He added: “Sustainability and the natural environment also played a key role in our approach to the design of the hub.

“To that end, we intend to achieve Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's ‘Building with Nature’ accreditation by seamlessly connecting the new sports areas with the natural environment of the area.”

Mark Gale, director of the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society, said he expected the “fantastic” site to open to the community in early 2025.

FWP, which is headquartered in Preston and has offices in Manchester and London, has built a national reputation for delivering successful community sports projects.

The practice’s strategic advice and design expertise, as well as the ability to work to budgets, proves crucial when sports clubs have limited resources for their plans.

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin