Having operated the tennis courts onsite and across the city for several years, we are seeking to create a multi-activity hub that brings people together and helps them to get active.
Following a procurement exercise, political approval and funding success, the project has now progressed to the planning application stage and the proposals include a brand new, forever free multi-use games area and tennis courts with LED lighting, covered padel courts, mini golf course, community café, public access toilets and indoor activity space – a brew, a loo and lots to do!
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November 2024 update
The mini golf course is taking form.
Following the completion of the foundations, erection of the steel framework and the commencement of the internal ground preparation in October, the construction of the hub has continued to progress smoothly. The internal groundwork is now complete, insulation has been installed, and the internal slab has been poured, giving the hub a floor and adding to the excitement of seeing the plans come to life.
Another milestone of the build in November was the addition of the roof. Designed with the possible future installation of solar panels in mind, the rear roof slopes towards the afternoon sun for maximum benefit; it also doubles up as a source of shade (or an escape from the rain) for the outside seating below. Onto the walls, December will see the completion of the blockwork to the hub’s external walls, with plans to render the building in January.
Externally, construction to the mini golf course has commenced. We are working with Rock Venture on bringing a Sheffield themed, 9-hole mini golf course to the Hillsborough hub, with a number of local landmarks to traverse. The majority of the course construction will be completed in December, with finishing touches to be added in the new year.
To see the progress made so far, follow us on Facebook CourtsideHillsborough and Instagram @courtsidehillsborough.
We hope you are as excited as we are about these developments and we’re looking forward to welcoming you into the hub upon completion in spring. Please note that during construction the park and many of its facilities will be open as usual.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
October 2024 update
The hub is taking shape.
The foundations of the hub have now been completed after their postponement from September due to the consistent wet weather. Following this, the construction team moved quickly to erect the steelwork that forms the frame of the hub building, bringing the building’s plans to life. Once the steelwork was in place, construction of the external walls began in preparation for the stonework and grouting to take place. Building control conducted a routine site visit following the work in October and no concerns were raised allowing us to confidently continue with construction.
The next stages of the build include the completion of the internal ground preparation, ready for flooring to be laid at a later date, and the installation of the building’s roof. The commencement of external drainage is set to occur in November, with Reech Sports restarting their work on the sports surfaces in the new year, to allow time for the drainage and other external elements of the hub to be completed. Furthermore, November will see the beginning of onsite work on the mini golf course with our partners Rock Venture Designs having spent the last few months designing and developing the course off site.
Please note that during construction the park and many of its facilities will be open as usual. We are expecting to complete the build in spring 2025 and we are looking forward to welcoming you to Hillsborough hub once it is complete.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
September 2024 update
Progress made on foundations.
After clearing the site and removing the former surface in August, September has seen more development on the site’s groundworks. Our appointed construction contractors, JBP Construction, battled with the inclement weather whilst they prepared the site and dug foundations for the hub. Due to the consistently wet weather, the foundations that were due to be poured at the end of the month have had to be postponed so will now take place in early October. Once the foundations are in place, the steelwork will shortly follow, and progress onsite will be visible from the safety fencing line.
In preparation for a later stage of construction, we are in the process of designing the 9-hole mini golf course with our new partners Rock Venture Design. Rock Venture Designs have an impressive portfolio of mini golf courses across the UK, and we are excited to be working alongside them to create a fun and challenging course for the Hillsborough hub.
Please note that during construction the park and many of its facilities will be open as usual. We are expecting to complete the build in winter 2024 and we are looking forward to welcoming you to Hillsborough hub once it is complete.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
August 2024 update
Work onsite has commenced.
Having had planning permission granted in April 2024, we are now onsite and making the first steps towards developing the Hillsborough hub. We are working with JBP Construction, who have worked hard to prepare the existing site for the build to take place, this includes the implementation of welfare cabins for the safety of the onsite team.
Since the very beginning of the planning process, we have been acutely aware of the current users of the park and have developed our plans with their benefit in mind. We identified that accessibility to the site of the Hillsborough hub could be improved for those using wheelchairs and adapted cycles. This is why, one of our first projects onsite, was to widen the pathway to the west of the tennis courts (nearest the pond) to 3 metres, from its former 1.5 metres, to now allow users more space for passing each other. We have also extended the Learn 2 Ride area to ensure those learning how to cycle have more space to safely do so.
The next stage in construction was surface removal in preparation for groundworks. Part of this process involved removing the former floodlights and fencing used onsite. We are pleased to advise that the LED lights from the floodlights are in good condition and are being given to Sheffield City Council for use on the Ruskin Park MUGA and the Meersbrook Park Bowling Pavilion. The new lighting we are installing at the Hillsborough hub is more modern and efficient, resulting in less light pollution and reducing the impact on neighbouring houses. In addition, the fencing that was previously used onsite is also in good condition and is being given to the Hillsborough Park Bowling Club to extend its use life.
Now the area has been cleared, work to build the foundational level of Courtside at Hillsborough is progressing. It may not look like much is happening onsite at the moment, but please be assured that there is a lot of work happening in the ground.
Please note that during construction the park and many of its facilities will be open as usual. We are expecting to complete the build in winter 2024 and we are looking forward to welcoming you to Hillsborough hub once it is complete.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
July 2024 update
Construction of the Hillsborough multi-activity hub to commence.
Having had planning permission for the Hillsborough hub in Hillsborough Park unanimously granted back in April 2024, and appointing a local construction company, JBP construction, in June 2024, we are now ready to begin work on site. We plan to commence the build in early August 2024 with a view to complete in winter 2024.
The approved plans for the development include a community café with indoor and outdoor seating, public access toilets, indoor activity space, 3x full-size tennis courts, 2x covered padel courts and a mix of other outdoor recreational facilities including netball, 3x3 basketball and football. New LED court lighting will encourage year-round play. These developments will not only improve community facilities, with the help of park landscaping improvements, our plans will achieve a biodiversity net gain of 540% at Hillsborough Park.
We know that change is not always easy, but it brings new opportunities. We also know that we have done all we can to consider the needs of different people, young and old, able-bodied and disabled, active and inactive, designing facilities fit for the future while preserving the heritage of Hillsborough Park. Despite the short-term inconvenience that is inevitable during the construction phase, by upgrading the existing facilities we will better be able to welcome and support the people of Hillsborough.
During the build, the park and many of its facilities will be open as usual. We hope you’re as excited about the improvements being made to Hillsborough Park as we are, and we look forward to welcoming you upon completion.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
June 2024 update
New sports facilities are coming to Hillsborough Park!
We are pleased to announce our partnership with Reech Sports in developing the new sporting and activity facilities at the Hillsborough hub which it set to open before the end of the year.
Reech sports specialise in designing and installing unique sporting facilities where inclusivity and sustainability are at the forefront. They will be assisting us with the design and construction of the resurfaced MUGA with line markings for 5-aside football and 4 separate games of basketball, a tennis and netball court, 2x tennis courts and LED lighting for all sports.
We are confident that this partnership will be of great benefit to the community in and around Hillsborough, with Reech Sports sharing our desire to help people get active and feel their best by providing them with a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive space to do so. Reech Sports have a depth of knowledge and experience, their impressive portfolio includes the rejuvenation of playgrounds and multi-use games areas in parks and schools across the midlands and Wales, in addition to their work developing facilities for professional sports clubs.
Reech Sports have commented, “We are proud to partner and work with Courtside in the development of their new hub in Sheffield. We at Reech Sports love building impactful and inclusive sports facilities that enable communities to be more active. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to work on this fantastic project conceptualised by Courtside that we know will empower the community of Hillsborough and wider Sheffield for years to come”.
The approved plans, which are fully funded by Sheffield City Council, DLUHC, Sport England, the Lawn Tennis Association and Courtside, also include: new free-to-use toilets and water supply, low-cost activity options, an indoor activity space, an extended Learn to Ride area accessible by widened pathways, and improved landscaping which is set to achieve a biodiversity net gain of over 500%.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped to shape the approved plans for the Hillsborough hub including those that completed surveys, attended public consultations, and commented on the planning application. The team is excited about the developments commencing in Hillsborough Park and are confident that with the help of Reech Sports, the Hillsborough hub will be the place to go for a range of social and physical activities with a welcoming community feel. The goal is to create a home from home for local people and a destination day out for others, to achieve even more social impact in Hillsborough and across Sheffield.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
May 2024 update
Rejuvenation of Hillsborough Park to commence!
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed a construction team to manage the build of the Hillsborough hub and work is set to commence in early June.
We have appointed JBP Construction to undertake the project and are confident that renovations of Hillsborough Park are safe in their hands. JBP Construction have recently stepped up to complete work on the abandoned Marriott hotel in Catcliffe in an effort to visually improve the area and facilitate those wanting to visit Sheffield and South Yorkshire. JBP have assured us that they will take every precaution to minimise disruption to locals and ensure that they preserve the heritage of the park during the construction of the Hillsborough hub. Work on the hub is set to complete by the end of the year.
JBP Construction have said: “We are delighted to secure this contract to provide new leisure facilities for Courtside in Hillsborough Park. As a Sheffield-based contractor, it’s very satisfying to both promote continued employment for our team and supply chain in the city, as well as an enhancing leisure provision on a site only four miles from our HQ.”
The approved plans, which are fully funded by Sheffield City Council, DLUHC, Sport England, the Lawn Tennis Association and Courtside, include: a community café with indoor and outdoor seating, a fully resurfaced MUGA with LED lighting and line markings for 5-aside football and 4 separate games of basketball, new free-to-use toilets and water supply, a flexible communal outdoor space, low-cost activity options such as tennis, padel and mini golf, an indoor activity space, an extended Learn to Ride area accessible by widened pathways, and improved landscaping which is set to achieve a biodiversity net gain of over 500%.
Councillor Kurtis Crossland, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is the Outdoor City, and we have a mission to help people in Sheffield be more active and live healthier lifestyles. To do this, we need to make sure that everyone has access to quality facilities and services, such as our Green Flag Hillsborough Park, which will be enhanced further by this new activity hub.”
Councillor Richard Williams, Chair of the Charity Trustee Policy Sub Committee, added: “The transformation of Hillsborough Park has been in the pipeline for some time, and following our decision to endorse the improvement of the tennis courts and new activity space, we are delighted that planning permission has now been granted for this unique new facility, which will have a real benefit to the local Hillsborough community and the people of Sheffield. We look forward to working with the Courtside team to make this vision a reality.”
Along with the new hub, we are in discussions regarding increasing the frequency of maintenance of the other tennis courts that we manage across the city and thank you for your patience whilst this new maintenance programme is developed.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped to shape these approved plans by completing surveys, attending public consultations, and commenting on the planning application. The team is excited about the imminent commencement of renovations and confident that, once all is complete, the Hillsborough hub will be the place to go for a range of social and physical activities with a welcoming community feel. The goal is to create a home from home for local people and a destination day out for others, to achieve even more social impact in Hillsborough and across Sheffield.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
April 2024 update
23/03892/FUL – Hillsborough Park community hub planning application: Planning permission granted
We are delighted to announce that planning permission has been unanimously granted for the development of a multi-activity hub and community café in Hillsborough Park.
Plans were submitted to Sheffield City Council in December 2023 and underwent review by the council, local residents and statutory bodies. This followed a public consultation in spring of the previous year which showed that over 80% of respondents were positive about the Hillsborough hub overall and 56% said that the proposals would make them use the park more. We also consulted with park users – including Sheffield Cycling 4 All, parkrun, MUGA users, tennis players and local schools – to ensure the new hub layout allows them to continue and enhance their enjoyment of the park.
The approved plans, which are fully funded by Sheffield City Council, DLUHC, Sport England, the Lawn Tennis Association and Courtside, include: a community café with indoor and outdoor seating, a fully resurfaced MUGA with LED lighting and line markings for 5-aside football and 4 separate games of basketball, new free-to-use toilets and water supply, a flexible communal outdoor space, low-cost activity options such as tennis, padel and mini golf, an indoor activity space, an extended Learn to Ride area accessible by widened pathways, and improved landscaping which is set to achieve a biodiversity net gain of over 500%.
We developed these plans with accessibility in mind. The whole site will be wheelchair friendly open to people with any disability seen or unseen. The path to the west of the tennis courts (nearest the pond) is being widened to 3 metres, from its current 1.5 metres, which will allow users (both on wheels and on foot) to have more space for passing each other, especially important for park users utilising the space on adapted cycles.
By having lower intensity options for exercise such as padel and mini golf, and social activities in the community café, we are ensuring that the Hillsborough hub caters for the older generations that can often be overlooked. Furthermore, by having free-to-use toilets, alongside a variety of new activity options, we hope that girls in Sheffield feel more confident spending time and exercising in Hillsborough Park, as previous Yorkshire Sport research found a lack of toilet facilities to be a barrier to girls exercising and spending time in parks at all.
The income generated from paid-for facilities and activities, and from food and drink, at good value price points to suit the local area, will help to cross subsidise exercise options for those who face economic barriers to participation, including free ‘Holiday and Food’ camps offered to disadvantaged local children. In addition, maintenance fees to look after facilities will be ring-fenced to benefit the Hillsborough Park charity.
Having been granted planning permission, we are aiming to satisfy the relevant planning conditions and confirm the appointment of a local construction company to commence works in May 2024. The onsite team will do their utmost to minimise disruption during construction with the end result being improved facilities that maintain and enhance the heritage of Hillsborough Park for future generations to enjoy.
We are grateful to everyone who has helped to shape these approved plans by completing surveys, attending public consultations and commenting on the planning application. The team is excited about the imminent commencement of renovations and confident that, once all is complete, the Hillsborough hub will be the place to go for a range of social and physical activities with a welcoming community feel. The goal is to create a home from home for local people and a destination day out for others, to achieve even more social impact in Hillsborough and across Sheffield.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside
December 2023 update
Plannin
g application submission: Hillsborough multi-activity hub & community café 13/11/23
Our planning application for the proposed multi-activity hub in Hillsborough Park is now live and under consideration by the Council’s planning department.
The proposals include a brand new, forever free multi-use games area and tennis courts with LED lighting, covered padel courts, mini golf course, community café, public access toilets and indoor activity space – a brew, a loo and lots to do!
Comments can be made at: Sheffield City Council – Tennis Courts at Hillsborough Park 15th September 2023
Sheffield City Council’s Charity Trustee Sub-Committee is an appointed group responsible for decisions relating to public spaces such as Hillsborough Park that have charitable status.
After much discussion with Council staff, local stakeholders and residents, and following
extensive consideration of objections raised, on 15th September 2023 the Sub-Committee voted 4-1 in favour of approving the Council’s recommendation to appoint Courtside Hubs CIC to develop and operate a multi-activity hub in Hillsborough Park; Courtside was the preferred partner as a result of an open tender process conducted in winter 2022.
Work will now get underway on preparing a planning application.
Isobel Wells
Contract Manager, Courtside