Lincolnshire Sport begin £1.1m community centre takeover

Lincolnshire Sport will invest £1.1 million into the Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre in Lincoln after their bid to develop and sustain the facility was granted by the city council.

The Lincolnshire Sport charity, which promotes sport, health and physical activity, will be awarded a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) for the 25-year lease and management of the building.

Permission for the plan was granted by the City of Lincoln Council’s Executive at a meeting on July 7.

The transfer will be made and works to restore and significantly improve the centre and grounds will begin once the charity have obtained the funding through grants.

So far, they say they have managed to achieve around half of what’s needed.

Developers say that building works will take between four to six months, and the charity could be in the premises in a year’s time.

It was also agreed that, through future phased projects, the adjoining open space and pitches on the premises could be developed.

The charity will be relocating their offices to the site, thereby setting aside funds that currently go on rent at their office on Allenby Business Park.

Lincolnshire Sport will be working with members of the community to determine the facilities that are included in the plan, and are encouraging residents of the Ermine estate and surrounding areas to get in touch with their ideas.

On July 10, Lincolnshire Sport staff, board members, centre staff and stakeholders celebrated the project alongside their 10th Birthday.

Lincolnshire Sport Chief Executive Officer, Janet Inman, said: “This move will put us as the heart of the community. We came here because of the fantastic space, but also because we wanted to become part of the community.

“What’s vital too is that people who live in the area make the most of the wonderful space and the facilities that we are going to create for them .

“We spoke to 100 people and only six said they used this community centre. What we’ve got is lots of non-functional spaces. The changing facilities for example are not ideal at all. That will all change.

“I’ll be talking to the Ermine Board in a few weeks time to discuss the plans and  gain a general understanding of the things people would like to see done with the facility.

“We did invite members of the local community and the Ermine Board to come along but unfortunately none have been able to do so.”

Project Manager James Murphy said: “We’ve done a lot of work on participative design and we are continue to use that as a driving force throughout the development.”