£24m 'Velopark' plan unveiled

Deborah Linton

July 16, 2009

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DETAILS of a £24m BMX arena aimed at turning Manchester into the `epicentre' of world cycling have been unveiled.

Town hall bosses are expected to `enthusiastically' approve just under £8.5m for the project next week.

This would give the go-ahead to create a leading `Velopark'- incorporating the Velodrome - at Sportcity in east Manchester.

The complex will be the home of the sport's national federation British Cycling and the team that triumphed at last year's Beijing Olympics.

World class

It is also expected to provide a training base for athletes for the London 2012 Games as well as being a world-class facility for the community.

The National Indoor BMX Centre, to be built next to the Velodrome, has attracted provisional pledges of more than £15m in grants.

These include £8m from the North West Development Agency, £2.4m each from the Homes and Communities Agency and European Regional Development Fund and a potential £3m from Sport England.

If funding is approved by Manchester council, the designs will go before city planners to give the green light for construction work to start.

Deputy council leader Jim Battle said: "This is a fantastic national facility which will not only be for elite athletes, but also for the community.

Ambition

"My personal ambition is that a future Olympic gold medallist will be a young person living in east Manchester today.

"The centre will build upon the relationship Manchester has with the British cycling team and enhance its status in the sport, making it the epicentre of world cycling."

If all goes to plan, it is hoped work will begin on site in January, with completion expected in March 2011.

The £24.3m total cost of the project is broken down into £19.5m for construction of the 2,000-seater, covered arena and £4.8m for other public facilities, including the creation of an outdoor freestyle area.

A report to the town hall executive proposes £80,000 of council contingency cash to British Cycling to help their move to the site, already earmarked to host national and international BMX competitions.

The project is expected to create 64 full-time jobs and safeguard 100. There will be cycle routes around the site and walkways to the new Metrolink station to be built at the nearby Asda store.

A consultation day for the public to view plans and have their say is due at the Velodrome on Tuesday, August 4, from 3pm to 8pm.

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chris (16/07/2009 at 09:36)

result for britich cycling.
but what about an epicentre for fat people eating crisps and moaning about traffic...oh yeah, thats the whole of manchester.

Horatio Dogsbody, Flixton (16/07/2009 at 10:47)

"Manchester into the `epicentre' of world cycling"

Are we expecting an earthquake underneath the Velodrome?

The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the source of an earthquake!

Laura Norder, Didsbury (16/07/2009 at 10:48)

"result for britich cycling. but what about an epicentre for fat people eating crisps and moaning about traffic...oh yeah, thats the whole of manchester." - chris

I'm so pleased that Sir Chris Hoy has taken time out of his training schedule to impart his pearls of wisdom to us ;-)

Gary SK13 (16/07/2009 at 13:03)

let's hope this actually happens and is not another ' white elephant'

Andanotherthing, Mcr (16/07/2009 at 15:53)

Excellent, but just like the other facilities, most locals will be priced out of using it.

Pippa, Manchester (16/07/2009 at 17:08)

I'm intrigued. Are they proposing to build on the Velodrome car park and if so, what parking facilities will be offered? As far as I can recall, there isn't any other spare land next to the Velodrome unless they build in Phillips Park.................

Joe Pub, Manchester (16/07/2009 at 23:55)

Are the council doing this just to have there pictures in the paper.

Jonah, USA (17/07/2009 at 01:36)

I just read the article about the "huge increase in burglaries". Shouldn't the money be spent on more prison cells? Surely there's a priority issue here? What the hell are the politicians thinking!

Old Trafford Pirate Appreciation Society, Old Trafford (17/07/2009 at 08:59)

Come on people, get behind this brilliant idea.. I for one was very proud last year that the successful British cycling team came from Manchester. I worried that they would move down to London and base themselves there once the Olympic facilities were built, but if this plan comes off we can remain British cycling's city, the home of champions! A floodlit BMX track for night racing would be amazing, I'd hope as well that they could use some of the hills around Manchester and also build some world class mountain biking trails. Being known as a centre of cycling excellence, and hopefully one day too as a cycle friendly city, can only help as we fight it out with our rivals for investment, create jobs and a culture of cycling that saves us money and keeps us healthy! I'm a believer!

citycentre, manchester (17/07/2009 at 10:34)

Jonah, USA

Maybe the money is better spent before people become involved in crime? Apparently it costs £119,000 to create a new prison space, and about £40,000 a year to keep someone in it (although Jonathon Aitkin in the Telegraph claimed it was £1,800 a night). Prevention might be better, and cheaper, than punishment?

Tim1980 (17/07/2009 at 18:35)

Horatio Dogsbody, could you also enlighten us stupid people as to what a metaphor is, please?

Also, I share the concern Pippa has and can only imagine that they expect people to cycle there or pose as Asda customers.

Ace , manchester (19/07/2009 at 17:32)

8 MILLION PLUS? Why not put those who are unemployed to work for their benefits,Surely this would benefit all our communities and save most of the 8million plus.And then what is left they could build other youth clubs around manchester,You could also use community and people on ASBOs for labour,This would save the taxpayer/ratepayers millions.and it would also prepare the long term unemployed for work in the future.

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (19/07/2009 at 20:47)

Ok, it is great but the good old British Cycling are being evicted from the Velodrome whilst this build is going on, yes, Pippa it is being built on their biggest car park, the place wear upto 1000 girls/women play netball.
Also has the management of the trust thought about the staffing of the venue, it is going to be on the other side of the venue away from the velodrome, so surely it will need staff over there as well.

Whiten elephant, I do not think so, a waste of money, yes, and at the moment, the management trust at the velodrome have no clue about security, management of staff, Health & safety and the list goes on, it is time for the council to step in and really look into the venue before too much money is spent!

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