An exhibition displaying plans for a new sports centre at the University of Sheffield will be held this week giving people the chance to ask questions and provide feedback.
The exhibitions for the centre which would be built on Northumberland Road will take place on Wednesday, 25 February, from 12-6 pm and 6-8 pm at the Diamond Exhibition space, and on Thursday, 26 February, from 12-5 pm and 6-8 pm at Goodwin South Reception.
The exhibitions are chances for people to see the current plans and proposals for the centre, to ask any questions, and to share and suggest ideas and feedback to the project team. A university spokesperson said the comments shared would be taken into account when refining the proposals.
The University’s proposals for the new sports centre aim to replace what it describes as the old, outdated, and somewhat unusable Goodwin sports centre with a larger, more modern centre with a wide variety of facilities. These include a swimming pool, gym, sports hall, squash courts, fitness studios, consultation rooms, and a café.
A spokesperson for the university said: “The new centre would wholly replace our existing sports buildings at Goodwin. The current, under-sized sports hall would remain open and in use throughout construction, as far as practicable.”
They added that the new centre was an opportunity to offer enhanced sports facilities for students and more, improving student health and wellbeing, in addition to being accessible and creating a welcoming environment, and ultimately strengthening the sporting community in the area.
The project is aiming to achieve the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, with the building’s design resulting in a streamlined and optimal energy and carbon model. The building’s roof is designed to accommodate approximately 1,260 m² of photovoltaic panels, as well as integrated heat recovery and greywater recycling systems.
While the centre is planning to be built upon the four current five-a-side pitches, the full-size pitch shall remain, as well as the additional pitches by the Wave. The loss of the four pitches will be compensated for with the improved and additional facilities and their larger size.
The proposal suggests that the centre should be accessed on Whitam Road rather than Northumberland Road and focuses on how to ensure an approach that improves safety and works well in practice for everyone. The project team is also keen to hear opinions on this.
More information on this can be found here
