See the plans for new sports village

Artist's impression of the proposed new Heywood Sports, Culture and Leisure Village

The public can see plans for the proposed new Sports, Culture and Leisure Village in Heywood next week.

Visitors to a special information evening on Tuesday (24 February) at Heywood Civic Centre will see the proposals for the West Starkey Street development.

The plans have changed since previous proposals were made and now show a completely new building to the north of the current Gaskell Pool and new layouts of the football pitches.

The sports centre will include a new 25-metre pool, a learner pool, sports hall, a 90 station fitness suite, dance studio and dedicated community and youth rooms, including a youth gym, and a refreshment area.

An additional all-weather pitch forms part of the plans and the current grass pitches will be drained and re-seeded, with new changing rooms forming part of the main building.

At the information evening people will be able to see how the proposed new building will look on the site, and detailed plans of the interior and exterior layouts of the buildings and pitches. Residents will also see how the construction work will be carried out, including temporary footpath diversions.

Representatives from Rochdale Council, Link4Life, New Heart for Heywood, project advisors Impact Partnership, contractors Kier North West and architects KKA will all be on hand to give information on the plans and to explain how to comment on the planning application.

New Deal for Communities Resident Director John Heywood said: “The Sports, Culture and Leisure Village Steering Group has worked hard over recent years to develop a scheme that will serve the needs of all sections of the community. I would like to encourage residents to come along and see the exciting new plans for themselves next Tuesday."

The meeting takes place on Tuesday 24 February, in the Cheesden Room at Heywood Civic Centre from 5pm to 8pm.