All weather pitches set to make their debut at Edge Hill University

Nov 22 2012 by Jamie McLoughlin, Ormskirk Advertiser

PART of Edge Hill University’s £15m all-weather pitch project could be open to students and the wider community before Christmas.

Work is progressing well on the land beyond the University's leisure centre which will ultimately include 3D surfaces, multi-courts, hockey and football pitches.

The site will also be floodlit so that facilities can be used into the early evening all year round.

The university’s vice-chancellor, John Cater, said: “ It is amazing to see the transformation taking place.

“The area to the east of the campus will soon provide top-of-the-range facilities for students and the local community to benefit from.

“The end result will see the creation of the eastern campus and will provide space for new student learning and recreational facilities for many years to come, making it a campus that truly matches, in both quality and scale, the best in the UK.”

The sports complex will be served by the new entrance and access road from St Helens Road, together with a new cycle lane, pedestrian routes and a bus-drop off point.

It will include running tracks, soccer, rugby and athletics fields, netball and tennis courts and a trim trail with exercise stations.

Eventually, a single-storey building will be constructed as an eight-court sports hall with viewing gallery for basketball, netball, badminton, five-a-side football and general sports use, a 25-metre swimming pool, a 100-station fitness suite, aerobics studio, health suite with sauna and steam rooms, a cafe and lounge area.

The outdoor sports complex will be completed next year, ready for community use from next autumn.

It follows other developments at the campus including the new Arts Centre, Student Hub building and additional on-campus accommodation.