Support for plan to transform Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre

The city council has submitted a £20m application to transform almost every aspect of the 150-acre centre, which was built before the Second World War.

The centrepiece of the proposed development is a large "community hub" building boasting a cafe, gym, multi-function rooms and changing facilities.

Council bosses are also planning "significant improvements" to the Alpine Snowsports Centre, including a new ski lodge with a reception area and party rooms.

The multi-million-pound scheme includes major improvements to the Alpine Snowsports Centre (Image: Southampton City Council)

Groups voicing support for the plans include Friends of Southampton Sports Centre (FoSSC).

In a letter to the council, it says: "Improvement is long overdue and very much needed, the site having suffered decades of neglect."

FoSSC also says opportunities to build on the success of the 2012 London Olympics were "completely missed".

READ MORE: City council submits application to give Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre major upgrade

It adds: "Whilst the OSC is located in Bassett it is not Bassett’s outdoor sports centre, it is the city’s outdoor sports centre.

"Modern, future-proofed facilities that will last a generation are essential.

"The general health of the city population is poor and every opportunity to provide a wide variety of formal and informal exercise activities is essential.

"The wellbeing engendered by being in an accessible and attractive open, green space is also of incalculable value."

FoSSC raises concerns about aspects of the scheme but says it will provide attractive, much-needed, and sustainable facilities, plus what it describes as an infrastructure of unified design.

The city council is planning to transform almost every part of the centre (Image: Southampton City Council)

The city council's public health team has also praised the proposed development.

It says: "Southampton’s Outdoor Sports Centre is a critical part of the city’s infrastructure for promoting and supporting local residents to engage in physical activity.

"Overall, the public health team welcome proposals to regenerate and enhance the facilities, improving the experience of existing users and hopefully encouraging new users."

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Solent Ski Club for the Disabled has used the centre for about 30 years.

Chairman Peter Ramm says: "We are delighted to see that Southampton City Council is focusing attention upon some much-needed improvement to the facility."

But not everyone is happy with the proposals put forward by the council.

The City of Southampton Society has lodged an objection, claiming there can be "no justification" for turning a cricket pitch into a car park.

"The pitch chosen is the best one at the centre, preferred by all the teams," it says.

Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre (Image: Richard Pinfield)