A £6 MILLION sports village that has been built on a former school site in Wyke has been handed over to Bradford Council this week as it is almost ready for use.
The new venue, built on the site of the former Wyke Manor School, will house a new cycle track that can be used to host competitions and events, a pavilion, an all-weather pitch and three grass sports pitches.
It will also be home to one of the biggest cycle facilities in the area, with 1.7km of track with 17 different variations and a nine-metre fall which is thought to be the steepest in the country. The cente also has cyclocross facilities and a “pump track.”
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We have taken over Wyke Community Sports Village from the main contractor this week.
“There are still things we need to do before the building is operational but we have booked in some events for the future.
“We look forward to this great facility opening for the people of south Bradford and the whole district. We are committed to providing improved places to be active and play sport across the district.”
Plans for the Wyke site were first approved in 2016 and initially would have included the refurbishment of a sports hall building that was retained during the demolition of Wyke Manor School.
However, flames ripped through the hall during a fierce blaze in June 2017 and, after a number of surveys, Bradford Council deemed it too dangerous to remain standing.
It meant the plans had to go back to the drawing board and be re-designed without the sports hall.
The project has been developed by Yorkshire-based contractor, William Birch and Son.
At the time, Gemma Shahjahan, Director at William Birch & Sons Ltd said, “We are really looking forward to working on this project and developing such a great community sports resource that will bring clear benefits to the local community.
“Our team’s expertise in the sports and leisure sector, coupled with local recruitment and engagement with local businesses will bring wider benefits to the city of Bradford and its people.”
The new sports village is the first of the District’s three multi-sports hubs to be delivered as part of the Council’s Sports Pitches Investment Programme in partnership with Sport England, British Cycling and the Football Foundation.
It will be the new home for local sports clubs including Football, Rugby League and Cycling clubs.
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