The brief

• The proposed expansion of the University, to accommodate increased student numbers
• The inadequacy of existing sports facilities on campus
• The desire of the University to provide enhanced pastoral facilities for new and existing students, and to increase scope and levels of provision for the local community
• The commitment of the University Sports Union to provide improved competition and training facilities for University sport
• The current level and quality of swimming provision in the local area
• The potential for partnership with the Local Authority, and some other local organisations eg clubs, Civil Service Club
• Other proposals for facility development in the City
• Restricted availability of capital and revenue funding
• The aim of the study was to identify the location, mix, cost, and means of delivering the required sports facilities, and to identify the issues to be addressed in developing shared facility provision

• An identified mix of community sports facilities, meeting identified local need, and serving the identified requirements of the University and students
• Identification of the preferred location for new facility development, and recommendations as to the existing indoor and outdoor facilities on the campus
• Identification of potential capital funding sources,
• Identification of capital costs for facility development, and the funding gap
• Identification of five year operational costs, and usage targets
• Identification of the issues to be addressed in facility provision eg access, security, programming, repair and maintenance, pricing policy, to cater for both recreational, competitive and community use
• Identification of potential commercial sector partners to help fund, deliver and operate the proposed facility development