Accrington Stanley Community Trust have appointed an architect to design their proposed multi million pound Community Sports Hub in Accrington.

The board of trustees met this week and selected Campbell Driver Partnership to lead on the architectural work over the coming months. This news follows the completion of the feasibility study which has been carried out over the past four months.

Martin Fearon, Community Trust Manager said ‘’the feasibility study for the new sports hub has been completed and we are currently discussing the findings with key partners and the council. We held meetings with a number of groups and local organisations as part of the study and this information has helped us shape the proposals.

We have appointed an architect who has already started work on the designs of the sports hub. We will be releasing the designs to the public in the next few months as we go through the planning process.’’

The proposed facility will include a full size floodlit 4G pitch, multiple grass pitches and a community building which includes changing rooms, class rooms, a cafeteria and offices for the Community Trust. There will be a car park built on site which will ease traffic congestion on Thorneyholme road.

The aims of the sports hub are to increase participation in sport, improve health and exercise levels and provide more opportunities for disabled people to access vital sport and education activities. The facility will also host many projects that develop employability skills for people out of work, create new job opportunities, inspire people to become volunteers for local sports organisations, sports clubs and charities, and provide a pathway for gifted and talented young people into elite sport.

Further updates will be provided on our website www.stanleytrust.co.uk  over the coming weeks and months.