Basingstoke sport facilities receive £1.2m boost
Money comes from a levy on developers
Over £1.2 million will be ploughed into helping to deliver new or upgraded sporting facilities in Basingstoke, thanks to developer funding allocated by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
Rugby, netball, padel tennis and football facilities will all benefit from the funding provided through the borough council’s Community Infrastructure Levy - a pot of money collected through development and invested across the borough to support infrastructure, including health and other facilities.
Plans for a brand-new rugby compliant artificial grass pitch at Down Grange Sports Complex in Kempshott, have been boosted with £400,000 of funding. It is hoped this money, combined with other funding, will help to deliver the new pitch for rugby and football.
With funding of £250,000, all six of the council-owned netball courts at Russell Howard Park in South Ham will be resurfaced and reopened to meet the increasing growth of the sport in the borough.
New padel tennis courts will be created at Basingstoke Tennis Centre in War Memorial Park in Basingstoke to complement the four outdoor tennis courts and the four indoor tennis courts.
And the two existing artificial grass pitches at Queen Mary’s College in Basingstoke, used by both the college and community, will be upgraded with £350,000 of funding to a rubber crumb surface to cater for increased demand and allow for FIFA registration.
Improved
Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: “This Community Infrastructure Levy funding is supporting a wealth of infrastructure improvements across the borough, to meet the needs of residents.
“I’m delighted four important and well-used sports facilities have benefited from this funding. It will help to meet the increasing demand for new and improved facilities across rugby, netball, padel tennis and football, promote wellbeing and support our residents to be more active across a range of sports and activities.”