COLCHESTER needs to invest about £25million in new sporting facilities to fix the chronic shortage, a new report suggests.

Colchester Council is due to agree a sports facility strategy to serve the town for the next 15 years.

As part of the process, a review has taken place which identifies what the town will require.

Taking a list of estimated costs from Sport England, the Gazette has calculated what the facilities could cost.

The strategy states the town needs a further:

  • 18 sports hall courts – with an estimated cost of £11million if split into four venues with four or five courts each
  • A five lane 25metre pool – estimated to cost about £4million.
  • 21 football pitches, including three for adults, 11 youth and ten mini soccer pitches – at a total cost of more than £1million
  • Six full size 3G courts including four new and two which need to be resurfaced – at a cost of about £5million
  • Indoor tennis courts – at a cost of about £2million for three courts
  • An internationally compliant rugby union pitch – at a cost of about £1.3million.

These are the estimated costs to build the facilities and they do not include the cost of the land.

The council report states: “The strategy will enable Colchester Council and other major sports providers to comprehensively plan the delivery of sports and leisure facilities across the borough over the course of the next 15 years.

“Colchester Council has a number of key priorities which include developing facilities in the Northern Gateway; ensuring Leisure World Colchester remains fit for purpose and continues to adapt to changing leisure needs.

“In addition, it needs to work with Essex University, Colchester Institute and the Garrison to help them to develop and improve their facilities when the opportunities arise.”

The 200 acre Northern Gateway project has the potential to fulfil some of this need.

A planning application has already been submitted for a David Lloyd Leisure Centre as part of the complex.

Another 18 acre site is also on the market for sports and leisure development. The strategy is expected to be signed off by Annie Feltham, councillor responsible for leisure, this week.