STRI Group has started work on the design and build of a new natural grass sports pitch complex, which forms part of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
Fylde Borough Council granted planning permission for the sports surfaces at the Common Edge Road Playing Fields site, and STRI teams moved in to break earth on the project at the start of July.
Work on drainage, ground levelling and seeding of the pitches is to be carried out during the Summer and early Autumn to ensure the pitches are ready for the start of the 2021/22 football season.
The new grass pitches will be located on an 11.50-hectare unused open grassland site, to the north of the Blackpool Airport runway. The design of the facility is flexible so that the natural grass area can be configured to accommodate a range of pitches of varying size to meet the needs of the local community.
All the pitches shall be designed and constructed to the standards set out by Sport England and can be used by amateur clubs and teams.
With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Blackpool Council has been working closely with STRI to ensure that works could proceed safely, and all the correct social distancing measures are in place.
STRI consultant and project lead, Neil Rodger, said: “The local community will benefit greatly from the construction of good quality natural grass sports pitches and STRI Group are looking forward to bringing this project to fruition.”
