Balfour Beauty grabs £32m Dundee sports central deal

Balfour Beatty is set to be confirmed winner of the race to build Dundee’s £32m Regional Performance Centre for Sport.Construction could start in May once councillors confirm the award next week.

The policy and resources committee is being asked to accept a tender from Balfour with a construction completion date of autumn 2019.

Council leader Councillor John Alexander said: “This ambitious project will provide a superb sports facility that also contains a £5 million energy centre.

“This innovative renewable energy approach will give us a district heating capability that has attracted the first award of ERDF Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme funding of £3 million.

The Regional Performance Centre for Sport will contain an eight court multi sports hub building with spectator seating, a strength and conditioning suite and a sport science suite.

The campus of sports facilities will have a full size indoor/artificial 3G football pitch and outdoor artificial/3G ‘rugby sized’ pitch suitable for both rugby and football.A new indoor athletics centre with an 80m running straight will provide all-weather training for athletes.

The existing athletics track is to be resurfaced and a covered spectator area added and the recently resurfaced velodrome is to have a new area of hardstanding provided for competition, with upgraded floodlighting.

There will also be a 7-aside community grass football pitch that will have open access for use by the local community.

Councillor Alexander added: “I am sure that this centre will provide huge benefits for the city and its people and reflects our drive to make Dundee a better place for all.

“It will provide top class sporting facilities that will support athletes in their development and help improve the health of our population through participation in sport.” The centre is also benefiting from a £5 million grant from sportscotland.