Case Studies - UK Projects
Catterick Leisure Centre: Leisure Management Advisors to the Ministry of Defence
L&R International was retained as advisors to the MoD over a five-year period. L&R undertook a detailed review of previous studies for a sports and leisure centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire and then prepared a detailed market assessment and initial business plan. Throughout the project and design development and management planning, and into the first year of operation, L&R advised on the facility mix, business planning, operator and equipment procurement, and contract monitoring.
The £21m centre is at the heart of extensive plans for an Army “Super Garrison”, providing as it does essential facilities for military swimming training. The Centre includes a military rehabilitation centre, sports hall (supported by Richmondshire District Council), fitness and aerobics suite and a North Yorkshire County Council Library. Its star feature is a swimming pools complex with a 25m competition pool and training and toddler pools. Garrison commander, Colonel Nick Millen, said: “This is a major step forward in the future of Catterick Garrison and the facilities will provide not only a first-class training facility and rehabilitation centre for the Army, but also a modern leisure centre that can also be used by both dependants and the wider community.” The new centre opened in July 2009.
Liverpool F.C. Anfield Stadium, Vernon Sangster Sports Centre and Community Partnership Centre
L&R has been involved in the regeneration activity surrounding Liverpool Football Club’s plans for a new stadium since 2004. The £150M Anfield Stadium project has planning permission for 60,000 seats with the potential to apply for permission for 72,000. The new stadium would form part of a wider ongoing Anfield and Breckfield regeneration scheme costing over £250 million. Anfield is at the heart of North Liverpool and is one of the most challenging parts of the UK.
L&R was first retained by Liverpool Football Club and Liverpool City Council to assist with business and operational plans for the Vernon Sangster Sports Centre and Anfield Youth Club (AYC). The former, on the site of the proposed new Anfield Stadium, has now been demolished and is due to be replaced in the new Stadium. AYC was significantly enhanced as Anfield Sports & Community Centre with a Barclays Space for Sport grant to provide temporary accommodation for Vernon Sangster activities. L&R also prepared business plans for the sports centre, and for a community partnership centre to be included in the stadium.
Arising from the Stadium project, £5m EU Objective 1 funding has been invested in North Liverpool community organisations. In 2007 L&R was commissioned to establish criteria and assess potential schemes and make recommendations with regard to the £5M fund. Subsequently L&R spent a year working with the 4 selected organisations to prepare business plans for their capital build projects and develop a Community Partnership Network across North Liverpool.
The links between regeneration, infrastructure development, social and economic planning and community capacity have been a strong backcloth to all L&R’s work in North Liverpool.
Daimler Green, Coventry
L&R were involved for over a decade in the recreational and community elements of the redevelopment of the Jaguar car factory site in Radford, Coventry. Developed jointly by Advantage West Midlands and Taylor Wimpey, 800 houses were built along the principles of an urban village. L&R's brief was to work with the sponsors, the City Council and local interests to establish a community trust to manage the recreation and community facilities. L&R led the process for the Trust, managing all the legal consultations and recruiting trustees. Prior to the establishment of the Trust and the transfer of facilities to it, L&R directly managed the operation and maintenance of the large playing field and football pitches for 3 years. L&R facilitated the final transfer of the playing field and the completed community centre, floodlit 5-a-side pitches and playgrounds to the Trust.
Daimler Green can truly claim to be one of the UK’s most successful ‘urban village’ developments.