Construction of the multi-million-pound Brickfields development is beginning this Autumn, after plans were approved earlier this year to transform the site into a sporting centre of excellence and asset for the wider Plymouth community.
Plymouth Argyle, Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Albion RFC, and Devonport Community Leisure Limited (DCLL) now have all the leases and legal agreements successfully completed.
This means that appointed contractors can begin the construction process for the outdoor works, to deliver the community and sport facilities on the underused site in Devonport.
At the core of the proposals is a new permanent home for Plymouth Argyle’s youth wing, the Argyle Academy, and Plymouth Argyle Women. Extensive community and sport facilities will include new grass and all-weather 3G pitches, athletics facilities for the City of Plymouth Athletics Club and other users, a play zone exclusively for public use, better public access, landscaped public areas, and parking.
Neighbours have been informed of the works commencing on site and can sign up to a monthly e-newsletter to keep up to date on the project. Work will begin to prepare the site in late September before construction works begin in late October. Some ecological works have been brought forward to be undertaken during this period, such as the installation of bird and bat boxes.
This work will start in tandem with the ongoing construction of the new community hub on the site of the former Brickfields sports centre. The vision to deliver much-needed accessible and affordable community space which helps to connect people and offer a wide range of wellbeing services is making good progress.
Andrew Parkinson, Plymouth Argyle chief executive, said: “This is another huge milestone in the Brickfields development and a big step on the journey to providing first-class facilities to both our Academy and Women’s team, but also the wider Plymouth community.
“Seeing the construction begin will show the first real tangible signs of the project coming to life and I am excited that we are now well on the way to making the Brickfields development a reality.
“I want to thank the various stakeholders involved in the planning stage for all their support so far and look forward to watching the construction works closely.”
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sports and Leisure added: “This is the biggest investment in sports and leisure the city has seen since the opening of the Life Centre and it’s brilliant news to see that construction work on the main site is now on the starting blocks.
“It’s been a hugely complex piece of work for all the organisations involved, with 26 leases and legal agreements to sign as well as countless negotiations with funders and groups all working towards the common goal of achieving this transformational sports regeneration scheme.
“I can’t stress enough that once it is finished, this is a place that will be welcoming to everyone. As well as the super fit elite teams and community clubs, we are making sure fresh, revitalised facilities at the hub, to be run by Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, will help people improve their health and wellbeing and encourage people to be a little more active in ways that suit them.”
To find out more about the Brickfields redevelopment, visit the dedicated microsite where you can also sign up to the newsletter to stay up to date with the latest developments. If you have any questions, you can get in touch via email at brickfields@pafc.co.uk.
Main picture caption – left to right: Steve Lewis (DCLL), Cllr Sue Dann (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Sports and Leisure), Mark Lovell (Chief Executive Officer at Plymouth Argyle Community Trust), Andrew Parkinson (Argyle Chief Executive), David Venables (Plymouth Albion owner), and Maurice West (Board Member for DCLL).
