Work completes on £5m worth of sports facilities

The construction of a £5m sports ground in Anlaby, Hull, has been completed – the final part of a multi-million pound flood scheme.

The old Sydney Smith School site, off First Lane, has been transformed by investment from East Riding of Yorkshire Council, with the creation of an £898,000 sports pavilion and 11 new pitches.

Work on the whole scheme began in 2018, and despite a 12-week delay caused by the pandemic, the project was finished last month.

The Former Sydney Smith School site playing fields and pavilion has now been handed over to its new tenant, Priory Football Club.

The site is now the club’s home ground and has been renamed Pride Park.

Councillor Chris Matthews, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “This site is cleverly designed for the dual purpose of being a fantastic sports ground but will also help to protect dozens of residents and businesses in the community from the devastating effects of floodwater.

“I’m extremely pleased to see the whole ground is now complete and can be put to good use by the young people of Priory FC.”

Malcolm Black, club chairman of Priory FC, said: “We are delighted and excited at the prospect of our new home – Pride Park.

“After the last 18 months that we have all had to endure, this is just the lift the club and players needed.

“With our new facility, Priory FC holds 11 pitches, a training area as well as the new pavilion.

“We hope to continue the club’s growth and continue to offer all children a safe and secure way in to football.”

The site will help to protect the area from flooding – as it forms the final part of the £22m Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Some of the grass pitches have been purposely designed to be sunken into the ground so, at times of heavy rainfall, they will fill up with water and help prevent large scale flooding of nearby houses and businesses.

The whole site could store up to 115,000 cubic metres of water – equivalent to 46 Olympic swimming pools.

Underground drainage would then slowly release the flood water into the drainage system.

Pitches have been built on different levels so generally only some of the pitches would be affected by floodwater, the remainder and the pavilion would not be affected and could still be used, unless the flood was extreme.

The scheme was designed by the council’s infrastructure and facilities team, with construction carried out by contractor Colas Siac.

The new pavilion was designed by the council’s infrastructure and facilities team and includes four changing rooms, an officials’ changing room, an office, kitchen and toilet facilities.

It was built by council contractor Hobson and Porter. The site is owned by the council and leased to the club for five years.