Ambitious plans have been announced for a major refurbishment of the University of Sheffield’s sports facilities.

However, the university intends to build on the existing four five-a-side pitches while the full size 3G football pitch will remain. Men’s Football at the University use the five-a-side pitches weekly along with many other student teams who also play socially.

The University of Sheffield Men’s Football Club Captain Daniel Johns said in response to this: “I think it’s a real shame and it’s something they should probably look to move rather than just destroy. I definitely think they should try to find space to move them or build something similar because I think people really will miss that.

“I do think this is something they have massively overlooked. I think those pitches are so unique in the way they are built. People looking in may not understand, but having played football all my life, a 5-aside pitch that size with goals that aren’t low is rare.”

The University acknowledged in their plans that the pitches being lost were well used and intend to compensate with “enhanced and additional facilities that support a net increase in sporting and physical activity participation across a variety of different sports.”

The new plans will include facilities such as a state-of-the-art swimming pool, a café, squash courts and a gym all located at the Goodwin site on Northumberland Road.

The decision comes as the university labelled their facilities “ageing and no longer fit for purpose”.

One of the standout new features will be the new swimming pool which will be at the heart of the facility. In the online plans, it’s acknowledged that Sheffield has ‘insufficient swimming facilities’.

The Vice President of Swimming at the University Sheffield Emma Craig said: “Currently our University swim club uses two external venues for club training, which have high costs associated with hire, and also means that our members have to travel, often by car, to training.

“There are limited pool facilities outside of Ponds Forge currently in Sheffield, a new pool opening more centrally would enable our society to dramatically reduce costs as well as improve sustainability attendance by allowing members to simply walk to training.

“It would definitely benefit swimming going forward, as lower membership prices could mean more students are able to get involved, and also training hours would no longer be limited to external venue availability.”

A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The new sports centre represents an opportunity to create a modern, accessible hub in the heart of the city that brings enhanced swimming, fitness, sport and wellbeing facilities together in one place.”

The University is hosting pre-planning consultations this Wednesday and Thursday between 12-5pm and 6-8pm in the Diamond Exhibition space on Wednesday and in Goodwin South Reception on Thursday.

This is to welcome feedback from staff and students, to local residents and business owners, before a formal planning application is submitted to Sheffield City Council.