CONSTRUCTION work has begun on a £2.3 million project being spearheaded by a company in the Bradford district.
STRI Group – based at the St Ives estate, Harden, near Bingley – is heading up the redevelopment of an area surrounding Vale Park Stadium, home of Port Vale Football Club, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
The Government-funded Vale Park Community Campus scheme will include the creation of two youth football pitches, a multi-use games area suitable for children with special educational needs and disabilities, padel courts and walking trails, and improved CCTV, lighting and signage.
There will also be a new community hub building.
Ecological improvements and sustainable drainage systems will be put in place to ensure the project exceeds ‘green’ standards.
STRI – well known for its innovative sports turf work – is providing full specialist consultancy planning, sports surface design, environmental engineering and delivery.
The group is working closely with a governance team comprising representatives of the football club and its foundation and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
As part of the next phase, landscape architects have been appointed to explore sustainable design opportunities across the site.
Will Turner, community and corporate social responsibility director at Port Vale Football Club Foundation, says: “This is an incredibly exciting moment for the foundation and the wider community.
“The Vale Park Community Campus will create new opportunities for people of all ages to access high-quality facilities – supporting health, wellbeing and participation in sport. We are proud of a project that will have such a lasting positive impact locally.”
Building work is being carried out by Carrick Construction, part of STRI Group.
Completion is scheduled for the spring/summer of next year.
James Podesta, director of development at STRI Group, says: “Carrick will work with the project designers and architects to deliver the design to specification – meeting the needs of both community and wider users, while aligning with sustainability and maintenance considerations.
“The start of construction is a significant milestone for the Vale Park Community Campus.
“This project demonstrates how sports infrastructure can deliver real community impact while embedding sustainability at the core of its design. Working alongside partners such as Port Vale Football Club Foundation and Stoke-on-Trent City Council and a highly-talented consultancy and design team allows us to explore innovative solutions to future-proof the development.
“Once complete, the Vale Park Community Campus will stand as a flagship example of how sport, community and sustainable design can come together to create lasting social value – providing accessible, high-quality facilities that will support health, wellbeing and participation for generations to come.”
