Plans for the refurbishment of a much-loved sports centre in Old Trafford will be shared at a community engagement event.
Old Trafford Sports Barn is in line for a revamp ahead of a community asset transfer next year.
Local people will get a chance to see the designs and meet the teams at a community engagement event on Tuesday 25 November from 6:30pm at the Old Trafford Sports Barn.
Trafford Council has worked with Positive Community Spaces Old Trafford (PCSOT), University Academy 92 (UA92) and Sport England to set the transformation in motion for the centre based in Seymour Park.
The project will receive £500,000 capital investment from Sport England through its Place Partnerships programme and a further £250,000 from UA92.
The Council has provided project sponsorship, legal support and strategic planning, helping to secure funding from Sport England and backing from local stakeholders.
The refurbishment programme will start with modernising the four-court sports hall and community spaces and installing eco-friendly lighting and heating systems throughout. This will be followed with a proposed replacement of the outdoor 3G pitch surface.
Through the community asset transfer, set to be completed in the late summer of 2026, the centre will become a vibrant community activity and wellbeing hub that will empower local people to live active, healthier lives.
Its aim will be to serve local families, young people, older residents, and low-income households with physical activity, exercise and sport offerings, plus lifelong learning and wellbeing programmes.
The Sports Barn will be operated by a newly formed a Community Benefit Society (CBS) which is a community-led not-for-profit enterprise created by PCSOT and UA92, with support from Trafford Council and Sport England.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said:
“This is a fantastic example of how community partnerships can shape a brighter future for Trafford. We are proud to support this transformation of the Old Trafford Sports Barn into a welcoming, sustainable, and inclusive wellbeing hub that reflects the needs of local residents.”
Dr Eoin Murray, Associate Dean, at UA92, said:
“This is an exciting project, which we are proud to be part of. Our collaborative approach, through the formation of a CBS, will ensure we are well placed to support, and in turn, serve our local community’s needs.”
Over the coming months, the CBS will work closely with the Council, Sport England and the project team, including FMG Consulting, Pozzoni Architects, Abacus Cost Management and Elderflower Legal, to move the project forward.