12:50pm Friday 19th March 2010
DEMOLITION work has begun on the former fruit and vegetable market as part of plans to create a new sports facility for the University of Worcester.
The university announced in January that it had bought the Hylton Road site, which has been derelict for many years.
Architects have now been appointed and are drawing up plans for a new indoor sports and multi-purpose arena and active leisure centre on the site, which will be used by both students and the Worcester community.
Mick Donovan, head of the university’s Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, said: “The university’s acclaimed learning through sport programme and many other community initiatives continue to expand and we are continually working with various sports to develop opportunities for participants of all ages.
“With the introduction of the new arena, we will be able to meet the needs of the region’s sporting community while also providing a venue that will attract a great range of spectator events to the city.”
The university has also bought the neighbouring former car showroom and a 110-space car park, which it plans to turn into teaching facilities, which will complement the new indoor arena.
Decommissioning specialist DSM is carrying out the demolition work at the former market site.
The demolition is expected to take about three weeks.
Paul Owen, project co-ordinator at DSM, said: “We are delighted to be working with the University of Worcester once again.
“This site has been derelict for some time now and we are pleased to be involved in the regeneration of this prime Worcester location.”
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