£7m project will transform sports and community facilities on east side of Swansea

SOUTH Wales-based contractor Morganstone  has been appointed to deliver a £7m project to transform sports and community facilities on the east side of Swansea which will also benefit the wider region.

The investment at Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre and Community School will see a new sports barn complete with indoor 3G pitch and fitness studio as well as a re-purposed outdoor five-a-side pitch.

It also includes a cafe and flexible spaces for use between the school, leisure centre and partners.

Other improvements will be made and the new layout will extend the opening hours of the leisure centre.

The development should be completed by Autumn 2023.

It is being funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government, with a £750,000 grant from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation with support from the Swansea City Foundation. Further contributions were made by Sport Wales, plus Freedom Leisure which manages the leisure centre on behalf of the council.

Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Investment, Regeneration and Tourism said:

“We have a long standing commitment to improve sports facilities in this community but the project has hit a few bumps along the road, mainly around ground conditions at the site.

“We have used this time to further improve our plans and what is now going to be delivered is a state-of-the-art development that will benefit pupils, sports clubs and the wider community for many years to come.

“Sport is such an important part of so many peoples’ lives so I’m really pleased work is about to get underway.

“Just last month we opened a new all-weather pitch at the Phoenix Centre in Townhill and in recent years we have funded or provided support towards all-weather pitches at Penyrheol, Morriston, Pentrehafod, Gowerton, Bishopston, the Elba Sports Complex in Gowerton, Dylan Thomas Community School and we are progressing plans for Olchfa.

“Swansea Council recognises sport has huge physical, mental health and general wellbeing benefits and that is why we do all we can to provide modern and accessible facilities for all.”

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said:

“This grant award to Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre and Community School towards developing a new sports barn is great news for the local community.

“It will support people’s ability to play our national game locally and therefore help unlock football’s many benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.”

Helen Elton, Head of Swansea City AFC Foundation added:

“The east side of Swansea needs this facility, and we are delighted that work can start after some delays.

“We were always keen to be involved and bring Football Foundation funds into this project to help them meet their aim of ‘helping transform communities where demand is greatest, and impact will be strongest’.”

Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure’s CEO said:

“This is very exciting news and we at Freedom Leisure are delighted to be a part of something that will have such a massive impact on so many people in this area.

“Our mission is to improve lives through leisure and this facility will sit right at the heart of the community, supporting and improving the health and well-being of everyone.”