Planned Northampton sports hall set to 'change lives for decades' takes step forward as council approves £700,000 of section 106 funding

Sunley Centre indoor sports facility will be a new facility at Kings Park in Moulton Park to work alongside Benham Sports Centre and the Indoor Tennis Centre in a bid to reach an additional 20,000 young people each year.

Although plans were approved in July last year for the £1.2 million facility, the applicant – Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs (NAYC) – appealed for help earlier this year in a bid to raise enough money for the build.

The plans have now taken a major step forward as West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) approved £700,000 of section 106 funding on February 2. Section 106 funds are financial contributions agreed between housing developers and local planning authorities. The funds are used to support the local community.

John Whittaker, CEO of NAYC, said: "Imagine a place where young people can discover their potential, grow in confidence, and build skills that last a lifetime. That's our vision for King's Park Sports - a truly world class facility that inspires more than 2,000 young people each week.

"Young people come here to enjoy 22 different sports - from tennis and trampolining to climbing and archery and it’s already a training base for national teams.

"King's Park currently consists of Benham Sports Centre and Indoor Tennis Centre, but it's far more than a sports centre. And yet too many young people are missing out.

"Cuts to funding for youth services and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis mean it's increasingly difficult for sports clubs to run affordable activities. That's why we're building a new sports hall - to open the door for 20,000 more young people every year. The facility will change lives for decades to come."

The proposed 20 metre by 25 metre hall, which would be called The Sunley Centre, will be connected to the existing tennis centre by a glass walkway. It will also have full access to changing rooms, toilets and the café.

The redevelopment will add 500 square metres of space. It will allow the centre to introduce new sports and smaller groups to take part in Zumba, martial arts, pickleball, trampoline fitness, dance, pilates, school sessions and community events.

The new hall will also provide venue space for up to 400 people and will be fully accessible to all.

Councillor Mark Arnull, Leader of WNC, added: "We are pleased to provide this funding which will play a crucial role in delivering a high-quality new indoor sports facility for our community.

“This investment demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that developer contributions are used to directly benefit residents, creating accessible, modern facilities that encourage people of all ages to get active, improve their health and wellbeing, and take part in community life.

"The Sunley Centre has the potential to engage thousands more young people each year and expand opportunities for sport across West Northamptonshire. We look forward to seeing this exciting project progress.”

Construction on the indoor facility has not yet started and there is currently no confirmed build timeline, according to WNC.