Former school site could become sports hub and GP surgery
Plans to turn a former school site in Leeds into sports facilities and a GP surgery have been recommended for approval.
The development at the old Matthew Murray High School, in Holbeck, would be one of four Parklife Hubs in Leeds, part of a not-for-profit scheme to boost grassroots football.
It will feature a two-storey building, three artificial football pitches, a cafe, pharmacy and a gym.
A detailed statement accompanying the application explains: “The proposals form part of a wider aspiration to improve facilities in grassroots football across the city through investment in pitches, facilities and participation programmes; therefore creating benefits in terms of sports participation, community activity and health & well-being.
“Parklife is a national programme funded by the Premier League, The Football Association (FA) and Department for Culture Media via Sport, Sport England. The programme is delivered by The Football Foundation the national Charity of these funders.
“As a major capital investment programme, Parklife aims to address a chronic shortage of good quality pitches where according to FA data, only one third of grass pitches in England are of adequate quality.”
Parklife hubs are also proposed for Thorpe Park in east Leeds and Woodhall Playing Fields, Pudsey. Another is already in place at Bodington Playing Fields, in Adel.
Leeds City Council has applied for planning permission for the Holbeck site, which would then be leased to a charity for 25 years.
