NWDA rides in with £8m for BMX centre
THE £19m National Indoor BMX Centre in East Manchester overcame its final hurdle today as the North West Development Agency revealed an £8m funding boost.
The project, which obtained planning permission in September, has already secured £8.5m from Manchester City Council and £3m from Sport England.
The 2,000-seater facility is expected to attract more than 120,000 people a year, and further underlines Manchester credentials as a top sporting city.
The BMX Centre will work alongside the adjacent Velodrome – where winning Olympians including Sir Chris Hoy have honed their skills – to provide the home of the GB Cycling squad.
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “The National Indoor BMX Centre will bring yet another world class sporting venue to East Manchester which will create new job opportunities for local residents and enhance Sportcity’s reputation as an international destination for sports events.
“The opportunity to invest in the BMX Centre and to further invest in SportCity will take the combined facilities to a new level, setting the standards for sport locations to a level unmatched anywhere in Europe.”
As part of its planned expansion, British Cycling will also be creating over 50 new jobs at the BMX centre. A further 12 jobs will be created in staffing the operation of the building.
Eddie Smith, chief executive of New East Manchester said: “It’s great news that finally we have all the funding in place as it means Manchester can yet again lead the way and deliver the world’s first bespoke indoor BMX track.
“Not only will this investment consolidate Manchester’s position as the home of British cycling, but it will further enhance the City’s cultural and sporting offer, attributes that are vital for Manchester to excel on the global stage.”
