11th June 2018
Work has commenced for the new White Rock Sports Centre at South Devon College, adjacent to the Vantage Point campus in Paignton.
The development brings together funding from South Devon College, the Premier League & the FA Facilities Fund and Linden Homes to provide a 3G pitch as well as a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) pitch; catering for a range of sports and activities including football, netball, tennis and hockey for both local residents and College students. The facility will be built by Midas Construction, part of the Midas Group.
The exciting development will aim to serve the community and inspire individuals to participate and enjoy spectator sports.
The purpose-built facility will ensure the delivery of education and training across the College’s activities including South Devon High School, the further education and higher education curriculum and a range of apprenticeship programmes. Both students and the community will benefit from state of the art resources and equipment. Local school children will be invited to use the facilities to take part in a variety of sports clubs and holiday clubs.
Lynn Squire, Section Head for Sport, Fitness and Adventure said, “I am very excited about the development of White Rock Sports Centre. This gives us huge opportunity to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved with sport and physical activity. The facility will be widely used by our learners including South Devon High School, our further education sport and fitness courses as well as foundation degree and BSc (Hons) degree programmes at University Centre South Devon (UCSD).”
Mike Borkowski, Business Development Director for Midas Construction, said: “We are delighted to again be working in partnership with the college to deliver such an exciting project that will see a modern sports development used by both the students as well as the wider community.
“We are looking forward to seeing the facility grow and take shape over the coming weeks and months.”
Austen Booth plays for the Pro:Direct Devon Academy and is progressing from Level 3 Sports Development and Coaching Diploma and a Sport Apprenticeship to study FdSc Sport and Exercise Science at UCSD. Austen said, “I think the new facilities will be great for the community as it will encourage more people to get involved in sport. For local players it means that we will benefit from the best 3G pitch facilities when studying sports courses at South Devon College. We hope to attract high quality players for the Pro:Direct Academy and develop local talent; a recent highlight for me was playing at the Etihad Stadium against the Man City youth team!”
The College’s proposals will build further on the already positive relationship with these sites and their neighbours, whilst respecting the close relationship the campus has with the countryside.
For more information on White Rock Sports Centre, please email [email protected] or call 08000 380123