Green additions to new Sports and Leisure Park

Winchester’s new sports and leisure park will have a clear focus on sustainability.

Following from the council’s declaration of a climate emergency, a number of improvements will be added to the centre to make it greener as the council looks to become carbon neutral by 2024.

To ensure the building is sustainable there will be increased solar panels, water recycling, heat recovery units and further energy efficiencies. As part of the carbon offsetting work there will also be 200 trees planted on the site.

Work is continuing to progress on the centre with the steel frame beginning to take shape, and centre is due to open in 2021.

The centre which is being built by Willmott Dixon and will be operated by Everyone Active will include a 50m pool, training pool, multi-use sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts and a hydrotherapy suite.

Cabinet Member for Sport, leisure and communities, Cllr Malcolm Prince, said: “It is fundamental that Winchester Sports and Leisure Park is as sustainable as possible, now we have declared a climate emergency it has to factor into everything we do and these improvements to this fantastic scheme will make a real difference as we work towards our goal of the council becoming carbon neutral by 2024.”

In September, a new pedestrian crossing will also be installed at Bar End Road to help people access the sports stadium and sports pitches.

The facility is being funded by the city council with financial contributions from Hampshire County Council, the Pinder Trust, and the University of Winchester.