Basildon Sporting Village takes shape

As the construction work passes the one year mark, Heart's been told it's on budget and on schedule to open in April 2011.

The project began in October 2009 with the piling and foundations completed in December.

The Basildon Sporting Village will open in April 2011 the only sports facility in Essex with an Olympic size swimming pool.

As well as being able to divide the 50 metre swimming pool into two 25m pools, other facilities there include a teaching pool, regional gymnastics centre, 8 court sports hall, fitness suite, crèche and cafe, climbing wall, floodlit five a side football pitches and a new athletics grandstand for 750 spectators.

The first tile for the 50 metre pool was put in place by Councillor Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and the arts and Councillor Stephen Castle, Essex County Council cabinet member for Education and the 2012 Games.

Cllr Kevin Blake says:  “The Sporting Village will transform leisure and sport in the county and region and I am delighted that we are one year through construction.  The progress remains on target and on budget, and I am excited to think that we are getting closer to the opening.  Externally the majority of the building is complete and the final six months of construction will concentrate on the internal facilities that will be excellent for all of the community.”

Cllr Stephen Castle says:  “The building is really taking shape, with the majority of external works now completed.  To think we are one year through build programme is very exciting, as by April 2011, the best public sports facility will be open providing first class sporting facilities for the people of Basildon and Essex.”

The Sporting Village project is a joint public and private partnership scheme between Basildon District Council and Community Solutions for Leisure (Basildon) Ltd.

The project is being led by Basildon District Council and Basildon Renaissance Partnership and has been supported by funding from Essex County Council, the East of England Development Agency, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Sport England and the Veolia ES Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust.