News

The Basildon Sporting Village has been under construction for one year.

The project began in October 2009 with the piling and foundations completed in December.

By February 2010 steel erection had begun, with over 1100 tonnes and 5000 pieces of steelwork erected on site over 14 weeks with the help of 40,000 bolts and 15,500 shear studs.  The steel frame of the entire building was completed at the end of June thanks to around 12,000 man hours of work.

Excavation works to create the county's first 50 metre pool started in March, with water testing on that and the learner pool taking place in June.  It took eight days to fill the main pool that will eventually be covered with 46,700 tiles.

Cladding of the building and roofing has been completed, and most of the glazing to the building entrances have also been finished with majority of the building now water tight.

Cllr Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and the arts says:  "The Sporting Village will transform leisure and sport in the county and region and I am delighted that we are one year through construction.  The progress remains on target and on budget, and I am excited to think that we are getting closer to the opening.  Externally the majority of the building is complete and the final six months of construction will concentrate on the internal facilities that will be excellent for all of the community."

 Cllr Stephen Castle, Essex County Council cabinet member for Education and the 2012 Games, says:  "The building is really taking shape, with the majority of external works now completed.  To think we are one year through build programme is very exciting, as by April 2011, the best public sports facility will be open providing first class sporting facilities for the people of Basildon and Essex."

The Basildon Sporting Village will open in April 2011 and will be the best public sports facility in Essex.  It will offer resident's from Basildon and across the county a 50 metre swimming pool able to split into two 25m pools, teaching pool, regional gymnastics centre, 8 court sports hall, fitness suite, crèche and cafe, climbing wall, floodlit five a side football pitches and a new athletics grandstand for 750 spectators.