New Sports Pitches Opened at York St John

FIFA World Cup football referee Howard Webb has officially opened the new Phase 2 outdoor sports pitches at York St John University.

As part of a wider sports campus designed by Watson Batty Architects the new facilities include floodlit 3G and sand dressed full size artificial turf pitches. New outdoor tennis and netball courts are provided alongside a new car / coach park area.

The University's future aspirations for the site, which was formally the sports ground of Nestle Rowntree include the construction of a multi-million pound indoor five court sports hall alongside a two storey sports pavilion building (Phase 3). The prpopsals which have been drawing up by Watson Batty Architects look to start on site this Summer with completion anticipated Spring 2016.

The facilities will provide the University with first class regional standard sports facilities for students, staff and the local community. Both York City FC and York City Knights RFLC will also have access to the facilities.

Another Leisure Centre on Site

 Watson Batty Architects are on site delivering another Local Authority leisure facility for Newark and Sherwood District Council, building on the excellent work recently undertaken in Washington for Sunderland Council.

Main Contractor, R G Carter commenced with the construction of Newark Leisure Centre in December 2014. When complete the centre will replace the town's existing Grove Leisure Centre and will feature a 25m community main pool with 6 swimming lanes, a 20m x 8.5m teaching pool, a sports hall, two exercise studios, two squash courts with a movable wall and a 200 station fitness suite with all the associated changing, administrative and staff accommodation facilities.

Works are progressing well on site and are scheduled for completion in Spring 2016.

A flyover video of the construction site can be found here - https://vimeo.com/124826941

Phase 2 of York St John University’s Sports Park Complete

A range of new floodlit outdoor sports facilities have recently been completed by York St John University. Representing a second phase of major investment in the former Nestle Rowntree playing fields on Haxby Road planned construction work will now focus on delivering a new £3.5m sports pavilion and sports hall in the Summer.

Watson Batty were originally appointed to masterplan the 80 acre site to provide the University with a high quality sports campus. This led to subsequent commissions for the practice, and our experienced sports sector team,including the design of a new full size 3G artificial pitch, full size sand dressed pitch, 5no outdoor tennis courts (including 2no netball courts) and a new car/coach park. The next phase provides all the necessary changing and teaching facilities to support Phase 2 and grass pitches alongside an indoor five court sized sports hall.  

The new 3G pitch was recently certified by the FA/RFL and RFU and will enable extended community use by York City Knights Rugby League Club and York City Football Club.