Work to begin on £5.8m sports village

Wyke Community Sports Village will see new football and rugby pitches, as well as a cycle track and cyclo cross facilities, built at the former Wyke Manor school site.

Contractors William Birch & Sons Ltd have been selected to develop the site, and work is planned to begin on-site in the spring.

Wyke Community 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.

The other two hubs that will follow will be based at Myra Shay sports grounds off Barkerend Road and Marley Playing Fields, just outside Keighley.

The Wyke project will bring a new home for local sports clubs including Football, Rugby League and Cycling clubs – with the cycle facilities acting as a replacement to those lost with the closure of Richard Dunn Sports Centre.

The facility will include a new all-weather football pitch, three improved grass pitches, a community and changing pavilion with a close loop cycle track and cyclo cross facilities.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We are thrilled that a contractor has been appointed and construction of Wyke Community Sports Village will start soon.

“We have worked closely with a number of partners on this project to get it to this stage with the full support of ward councillors.

“This will be a great facility 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. “A key priority for us is to help people keep fit and active and providing good sports facilities for residents, schools and local sports clubs in their local areas is one way we can encourage this.”

In addition to the Council’s own team the project design team includes Rex Procter and Partners, Darnton B3 and Furness Partnership.

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.

In a joint statement, Wyke Councillors David Warburton and Rosie Watson said: “This announcement culminates in many years work by the local councillors to improve facilities in the ward.

“The hope is that next year with a fresh beginning the community will be able to utilise this site.”