Sporting proposal from York St John University

A proposal for state of the art sports facilities to be developed at York St John University’s recently acquired site on Haxby Road was presented to City of York Council at a planning committee pre-meeting on 25 October 2012.

David Chesser, Pro Vice Chancellor of resources, Colin Parkin, Director of facilities and Professor Andy Smith, Head of Sports Performance and Participation, attended the meeting to give members of the committee the opportunity to ask questions and gain a full understanding of the University’s plans in advance of a formal planning submission.

The 57 acre site was purchased by the University earlier this year and huge improvements have already been made to the facilities which include a cricket pitch, two rugby pitches, five football pitches, a six lane athletics sprint track, three tennis courts and two netball courts.

Impressive but temporary changing and classroom facilities have been installed to enhance the current use of the site which now includes student learning and teaching, Students’ Union sports events and resident community clubs’ activity.

Future plans for the site are ambitious, with the University aiming to develop York St John University Sports Centre Nestle Rowntree Park into “one of the best venues for student and community sport in the UK.”

Professor David Fleming, Vice Chancellor at York St John University, said: “This is one of the best sporting facilities in York and there are lots of residents with fond memories of competing and spectating on this site. We are in a strong position to not only maintain this high standard, character and heritage, but to enhance it further for existing users, the local community and of course our students.

“We are strong advocates of training outdoors whatever the weather, so our first priority is to make the facilities winter and weather proof by providing state of the art all weather pitches, installing floodlights and improving car parking. We will be submitting our planning application for this in the next month with the aim of having it ready for our 2014 intake of students.”

Anyone interested in using the sports facilities can contact Andy Smith a.smith@yorksj.ac.uk for more information.