New Brickfields facility will be a ‘beacon for sport, health, wellbeing and community’

A massive £21million investment for Brickfields was agreed at Plymouth City Council’s cabinet meeting yesterday (9 March), bringing new multi-sport facilities to the Devonport area alongside a new community center designed to meet people’s needs place to support.

The proposals were made thanks to a partnership between Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion Rugby Football Club and Devonport Community Leisure Ltd.

The entire complex will be reconfigured and upgraded with:

• Facilities for the Plymouth Argyle Academy including a new building containing classrooms, changing rooms and offices and training grounds.
• An improved set of three grass pitches for soccer
• Replacement of an existing grass rugby training pitch with a new 3G pitch
• A new floodlit 3G football pitch to replace a hockey pitch in poor condition (currently closed).
• A new covered 3G soccer field
• Conversion of the existing 60m x 40m rubber crumb playing field into two PlayZones exclusively for public use.
• Better access to the site, public area and parking lots.

The program also includes a new community hub operated by the Plymouth Argyle Community Trust and initial concepts include expanding the existing offering within the sports centre. In addition to being a place for indoor sports, it could become a base for:

• Education and employment programs such as apprenticeships and internships, and adult education
• Assistance with physical, mental and emotional well-being and help with money management
• A special room for young people and youth welfare
• Soft play, upgraded affordable fitness and studio facilities, and a community cafe with inexpensive food are also under consideration.

At the Cabinet meeting, Councilor Pat Pat Patel, Cabinet Member for Customer Service, Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “I’m really excited about the future of Brickfields. This is a huge £21m investment project which will transform not only the location of Brickfields but also the community of Devonport and sport across the city.

“This is about our ambition for the communities in Plymouth. It’s about better health outcomes for the people of Devonport and better access to facilities.

“This agreement is the result of a great and long term partnership between Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion and Devonport Community Leisure. I would like to thank all of these partners, the users of the site and the local councils for getting this project through the line. I am so proud of what the team has achieved together.”

Representatives of the sports partners also spoke at the cabinet meeting. At the meeting, Plymouth Argyle Chief Executive Andrew Parkinson said: “We are delighted to be able to undertake this project. It has an example of dialogue and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.

“When we got this project off the ground, we set ourselves a number of goals. The first is about sporting excellence, valorizing an underutilized site, improving facilities and providing a model multisport venue.

“It will be able to attract, retain and develop our city’s best sports talent.

“Our second goal was social commitment. We will connect the entire local community to the site via a new hub. This will lead to increased utilization, regeneration and sustainability.

“This is a unique opportunity for the city. It will be a beacon for sport, health and wellbeing, the community and everyone involved.”

Mark Lovell, Community Manager at Plymouth Argyle added: “Over the last nine months we have worked with a number of partners and residents to advise them on the future of the site and what they want. Some of the common themes are interiors, enhanced exteriors, low cost, community use, versatility, ensuring family use, education, a youth zone and a cafe.

“We will now continue this commitment in detail as the project progresses and develop a facility that not only prioritizes top sporting performance, but also has a strong community offering.”

Max Venables, Managing Director of Plymouth Albion, also said: “It is extremely rare that three organizations have come together and their aspirations, wants and needs are so well aligned.

“This space will be what the city deserves. I want to thank the council for bringing us all together to make this possible.”

Plymouth Argyle Football Club has signaled an investment of £11m from the club with a further £7.3m from the Argyle Community Trust, including outside grants. The council’s investment includes the transfer of land to the three clubs and a capital contribution of £2.75m – funded by maintenance and management savings expected to be realized as a result of the asset transfer.

The mechanism for the program will be a deal, allowing Plymouth City Council as landlord to enter into new leases with each partner and amend the arrangements for the operation and management of Brickfields Sport Centre.

There are ongoing discussions with England Hockey to ensure the Council’s commitment to securing the future of hockey in the city is realised, with investment earmarked for this purpose. There is also earmarked funding for the provision of off-site pétanque.