02
April
2013
|
23:00
Europe/London

On your marks, get set go – Building begins on new compact athletic facility

Stoke Newington School in Hackney is set to become home to the first compact athletics facility in the borough.

Building work is underway on the brand new athletics facility that will be available for everyone to use. The facility will consist of an eight lane 50m synthetic running straight, long and triple jump sand pit with a three lane run up, a three bay throw area, a high jump fan and bed, jump trail where people can practice their jumps and a marked running circuit across the school grounds.   

The facility will be situated in the outdoor areas of Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form where elements of the existing outdoor space will be transformed into this brand new community sporting facility.

Once open it will be the home of the Hackney Hurricanes, an inclusive sports club that is looking to build on its award winning disability athletics programme by expanding to incorporate able bodied athletes of all abilities.

The compact athletic facility is a partnership between Hackney Council, Stoke Newington School, Sport England, London Marathon Charitable Trust and England Athletics and it will be the first in the country developed and built through this partnership.

Cllr Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, Hackney Council
The Council’s priority from the 2012 Games was to ensure a lasting legacy for Hackney and this new facility, the first of its kind in the borough is one of the ways that this will be achieved. We remain committed to increasing the number of people of all ages and abilities who regularly take part in sport and other activities, and once this facility opens, it will give more people an opportunity to give athletics a try.
Cllr Rita Krishna, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, Hackney Council

Chris Jones, Chief Executive, England Athletics Ltd said: "2012 left an positive and indelible mark on communities up and down the land, particularly in London where the true impact of the games can be felt by the many young people who are now taking part in athletics and other sports as a result of innovative activation projects such as the RUN!. This facility will contribute hugely as a blueprint for other areas to follow. We are excited by the opportunities this development will bring as we strive to encourage more young people and adults to take part in our wonderful sport"

Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said:  “School children and the local community will  soon have access to first-class athletics facilities thanks to our National Lottery investment. With three-quarters of sports facilities in England located in schools, we’re committed to getting many more of these facilities opened up and benefiting local communities all across the country.”   

England Athletics through their ‘Whole Sport Plan’ identified the compact athletic facilities as a model that can be used in urban areas where there is not the space to place traditional 400m tracks. The aim is to learn through the experience of the construction of the facility in Hackney, and to build similar facilities across the country.

Funding breakdown
Sport England - £116,000,
London Marathon Charitable Trust - £150,000
England Athletic - £100,000
National Lottery £116,000

B3 Architects have designed the facilities. Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2013.