Sports Village plan is almost at starting line

Thu 5th November 2009 11.30AM

WORK on the £30m Orford Park Project could begin as early as next month. Following the Council’s decision in September to grant outline planning permission, the community sports village developers have learned that they can go ahead without a public inquiry. The Government Office for the North West has notified the borough council they will not be "calling in" the "sports village" scheme - which means there will not have to be a time-consuming public inquiry. With another hurdle removed, contractors can be appointed to improve highway access to the site. This could begin as early as December. This, public, private and voluntary sector development will transform 50 acres of a former landfill site in a high profile location adjacent to the A49 northern gateway, into a valuable community asset.

The £30m project, will provide a wide variety of leisure, health, education facilities all on one site taking shape in a community sports village complete with football pitches, library and health centre. The project is led by Warrington Council in partnership with TONP (The Orford Neighbourhood Project), Warrington Collegiate, Warrington Wolves, William Beamont High School, Warrington Disability Partnership, Network Warrington and the Warrington PCT The village is designed to help promote key local, regional and national aims including:
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and independence
• Increasing the number of people participating in physical activity from 22.8% to 34.9%
• Improving lifelong learning, local skill base and employability of local people.

Not only will the village provide a focal point for the local community and boost local pride and identity, it will also represent a London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games legacy for the north west. The North West Development Agency is investing £3.6m in the project and chief executive Steven Broomhead, says: “The Orford Park Project is an important scheme for Warrington and the Northwest region, and something the NWDA is pleased to support. Sport makes a huge contribution to our regional economy with latest figures showing it adds £3bn to our economy every year and supports 50,000 jobs. I am very much looking forward to seeing this site transform into an impressive modern sports village which will bring considerable social and economic benefits.

“During times of uncertainty in the economy it is encouraging to see significant projects such as this going forward.” Stewart Kellett, Regional Director Sport England North West, said: “Sport England promotes sustainable approaches to growing and maintaining sports participation. The council and local partners have taken up this challenge by putting sport at the centre of their regeneration plans providing a wide range of facilities and services needed to support the community. “This is a cutting edge project for the sports sector. It builds on the experience of other developments such as Leigh Sports Village, and goes beyond the conventional approaches to facility development.

“As a key partner, we are really excited about the prospects for this project and look forward to the next stage of its delivery and it will assist Sport England to deliver our target of 1 million more people playing sport by 2012.” The Football Foundation, the UK’s largest sports charity, has awarded the Orford Park project its maximum grant of £1 million. Warrington Wolves will be locating its academy and training facilities on site.