A MAJOR plan to transform a city sports centre will form part of a multi-million-pound to the government.
Huge new multi-million-pound plans for Nunnery Wood Sports Centre in Worcester would see a new sports hall and exercise studio built at the site off Spetchley Road.
The work, which forms part of a bid which is set to be put forward to the government for ‘levelling up’ money, also includes a refurbishment of the centre’s athletics facilities including a resurfaced running track.
Plans also include a new clubhouse including changing rooms and toilets, kitchen and seating, new floodlights, a bigger gym and changing rooms and a new reception and bigger car park.
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Worcester Athletic Club has been unable to hold any events at the hole-filled and “dilapidated” track and was forced to scrap any bids to host county championships over safety fears.
Young runners have also been forced to travel to other parts of the West Midlands and Wales to compete because the facilities at Nunnery Wood are inadequate.
The proposed £20 million bid by Worcester City Council also includes major improvements to Worcester’s Pitchcroft Racecourse which includes a new rooftop bar and riverside café and function room, a larger conference centre to host bigger events and an extended and modernised grandstand.
Ten-million-pound work to transform the former Engine Works building in Shrub Hill Road into work and office space will also form part of the bid.
The council also plans to carry out work to create a bigger and improved Worcester Museum and Art Gallery in Foregate Street.
The council is already looking to build a new all-weather 3G sports pitch at Perdiswell Leisure Centre at a cost of at least £800,000.
A report, which will be discussed by the city council’s policy and resources committee next week, said; “This project supports the city plan priority to support health and wellbeing for local people, but also provides a facility that can host local, regional and national competition.
“The Levelling Up fund identifies this as a cultural investment project to improve cultural space and to meet outputs of increased visitors to events and provide a long-term change in the health of local residents.
Bids must be submitted by July 6 with the results expected to be announced by ministers in the autumn.
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