08 Jul Anglia Ruskin consults on plans to upgrade sports ground
Anglia Ruskin University is consulting on new plans to provide significant improvements to its facilities at Howes Close Sports Ground, in Girton.
A public consultation will take place at the existing sports pavilion on Howes Close Sports Ground, Whitehouse Lane, Cambridge on Thursday, 14 July between 5pm and 7.30pm.
The proposals include demolishing the existing pavilion and redeveloping it as a new facility that will not only have modern changing rooms but will also include a new warm-up area and administration desk. The plans will also enhance the sports offering by changing two of the four pitches into artificial pitches. Improved parking facilities and access to the sports ground are also proposed.
The scheme was originally submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council in 2015, however it was rejected in part due to concerns over noise and lighting. Anglia Ruskin University has listened to the feedback from local residents and the council and is proposing a new acoustic fence, reduced opening times and a detailed management plan which restricts access to authorised users only.
There is a significant shortfall of sports pitches within Cambridge, particularly artificial pitches. The two proposed pitches will help to ease the shortfall in the area, and will also release nearly 600 hours of slots to the community that would have otherwise had to have been used by Anglia Ruskin’s sports teams at public facilities.
Martin Beaver, Head of Sport at Anglia Ruskin University, said:
“The existing facilities at Howes Close Sports Ground fall well below both expectations and standards of our University. These new proposals mean that Anglia Ruskin University and local sports teams can continue to compete at a national level in sport.“We’ve held a number of consultations previously with local residents and have made a series of changes in response to their feedback. We look forward to discussing the plans with the community over the coming weeks”
