Sport

19 Nov 09

The grandstand at Iffley Road Sports Centre.

The University is holding a public consultation today (19 November), on the redevelopment of the Iffley Road Sports Centre after developing a Master Plan for the sports complex for a number of years.

Stage two proposals for redevelopment are being prepared which involve the grandstand and the existing sports hall. The swimming pool will remain, but all the other buildings are to be redeveloped to provide new state of the art facilities for over 80 different sports.

The first stage involved proposals for a new indoor tennis centre and outdoor courts next to Iffley Road. As part of this scheme, which was approved by the City Council earlier this year, the unattractive close-boarded fence will be replaced with metal railings. For the first time for many years the whole site, including the famous running track, will be visible to passers by on Iffley Road.

The initial ideas for the second stage of development will be displayed at an exhibition held in the University Rugby Club Pavilion from 2pm until 8pm. Staff will be available to discuss the ideas and to explain what is involved. A second consultation will take place in mid-December to display the final plans for the site, prior to applying for planning permission.

Jon Roycroft, Director of Sport at Oxford University said: 'Following on from the exciting news that we have obtained planning permission for the indoor tennis centre, we are now moving onto the challenge of fully developing plans for the University to fundraise and build the highest quality indoor sports facilities for the 21st century.

'These much needed facilities will be used by University sports teams, the University at large and importantly the local community as individual members of the fitness/health facilities and where appropriate as members of enlarged ‘open’ based sports clubs, such as judo and fencing.'

Despite the success and diversity of Oxford University Sport, the majority of the facilities at Iffley Rd, which were state of the art when built between 1950 and 1972, have become outdated and too small. Currently the University Sports Complex is working at capacity in most areas, without the ability to come close to catering for its own University sports market, let alone the burgeoning community interest.

The original indoor facilities were built to accommodate around 10 sports, however there are well over 40 indoor sports now in operation, all with male and female sections and in some cases a very successful community section. A further 40 ‘outdoor’ sports exist within the University which would also benefit from improved indoor facilities of this quality, for strength and conditioning and support services.

The proposed new facilities would allow the University to expand provision in relation to its wide range of sports and although, of necessity, the main user base of the facilities will remain the students and staff of the University, it is planned to significantly increase the opportunities for community use.

Plans will include a dedicated fencing sale, one single and one double ‘4 court’ sports halls, enhanced fitness facilties, three glass-baked squash courts, a county standard martial arts dojo, multi-use sports studios, a heavy weights room, climbing wall and extended café area, as well as meeting rooms and refurbished pool changing areas.

Access for disabled users, both university and local community, also needs to be dramatically improved, with the current ‘old’ facilities providing many structural problems with access.

The existing running track stand and cricket school would be redeveloped as one building, incorporating cricket school development, a projectile room for rifle, pistol and archery clubs, new high quality football and athletics changing areas and low level covered spectator/viewing areas.