Liverpool university prepares for sports centre extension opening

Liverpool university will be opening its new £3.5m extension to its sports centre in September and is hoping to further improve its sporting facilities in the near future by selling a piece of land.

Existing facilities at the centre include a multi-purpose sports hall, three squash courts, a dance studio, climbing wall, two weights rooms, a 33m swimming pool and a fitness area.

The new extension will add a second sports hall to centre, as well as additional changing areas, a 450sq m fitness suite and a new entrance and reception area.

The university is looking to attract at least 3,000 new members to the extended sport centre in the first year of operation, which is open to public as well as students and staff.

In a separate development, the University is hoping that a proposed extension to a Tesco store close to its sports ground receives the green light from the City Council’s planning committee.

The Tesco extension is partly planned on the university’s Wyncote Ground, which the university is eager to sell to the supermarket giant, as it would release substantial investment for the sports facilities.

Professor Drummond Bone, vice-chancellor, said: “By selling this small pocket of land, we would be able to renew the sporting facilities to ensure local teams can continue to enjoy community sports in the area for years to come.”

If the council turns down the application – backed by Sport England – the University fears that the current older facilities will rapidly become unusable.