Work begins at SportPark

WORK has begun to expand SportPark at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.

Scheduled for completion next winter 2022, the £9 million Pavilion 4 project aims to give sports organisations an opportunity to “secure environmentally future-proof accommodation”.

It features efficient heat pumps, opening triple-glazed windows for natural ventilation, solar shading to avoid summer overheating and continuous and well-insulated building fabric to minimise heat loss.

The project will directly support 165 jobs with an estimated 157 more in the wider economy.

Professor Mike Caine, pro vice-chancellor sport, said: “SportPark is a tremendous asset to the university and wider region.”

Kevin Harris, chairman of Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership board of directors, said: “Our research shows the sports sector has the potential to deliver £100 million of growth by 2030.

“The low-carbon design of the building will make a valuable contribution to reducing

CO2 emissions for Leicestershire, too.”