New Sports Centre

Page last updated: 10/09/2026

What we heard and what has changed

We received 292 responses to our pre-planning consultation, with strong overall support for a new sports centre and the return of swimming. The strongest concern was the proposed loss of the existing five-a-side football pitches. Many people also told us how much they value steam room provision as part of the swimming and wellbeing offer.

You said: The loss of the four existing five-a-side pitches was a major concern.
We did: Redesigned the scheme so four new five-a-side pitches can be created on the footprint of the existing Goodwin South building once the new centre is operational.

You said: You wanted clearer plans for access and for how existing challenges on Northumberland Road would be addressed.
We did: Developed detailed access proposals and a new pedestrian crossing at the Northumberland Road / Whitham Road junction.

You said: The existing gym can be too busy at peak times.
We did: Increased the proposed fitness and gym provision to around 270 stations - approximately 35% more than the existing 197 stations.

You said: You wanted clarity on the size, use and accessibility of the replacement pool.
We did: The design includes a 10-lane, 25-metre pool with a moveable floor, timing systems and enhanced accessibility and safety systems.

You said: You were concerned about the proposed black cladding.
We did: Changed the external treatment to a bronze tone that better relates to the surrounding area.

You said: Many people told us they valued steam room provision.
We did: Included a steam room within the revised centre.

These changes follow further design work and discussions with Sheffield City Council planners and Sport England. We believe they provide a positive way forward - retaining important outdoor sports provision while creating a new, modern centre with a much wider range of facilities for students, staff and the wider community.

Proposed new 3G pitches

Proposed new 3G pitches

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Why a new sports centre is needed

Access to a modern sports centre is central to a great university experience. It supports student wellbeing and belonging, helps staff to live well and stay active, and strengthens our sporting community across campus and beyond.

Our current facilities are ageing and some spaces are no longer fit for purpose. We also know that Sheffield has insufficient swimming facilities and that the closure of our pool exacerbated this for our students, staff and local community.

A new sports centre is an opportunity to:

• keep a major sporting and wellbeing hub in the heart of the city
• bring enhanced swimming, fitness training, sport and wellbeing facilities together in one central, accessible place
• create a welcoming environment where people feel confident to take part, whether they are exercising, spectating, or meeting others
• provide a high-quality facility that serves students and staff, while also supporting the wider Sheffield community to take part in sport and physical activity
• deliver a new building that has been designed to the highest environmental credentials, in line with the University’s decarbonisation strategy

What is being proposed

Our proposal is for a new sports centre bringing together:

• 10-lane, 25-metre swimming pool with a moveable floor
• around 270 fitness and gym stations
• 8-court sports hall
• 3 squash courts
• 3 fitness studios
• steam room
• 4 flexible consultation rooms
• cafe and social space

Although the new centre would be built on four existing five-a-side pitches, the revised design retains the full-size 3G football pitch and provides four new five-a-side pitches on the footprint of the existing Goodwin South building, which will be demolished once the new centre is operational. This means the same level of small-sided football provision can be retained within the area while significantly widening opportunities for sport and physical activity.

The new centre would wholly replace our existing sports buildings at Goodwin. The current, under-sized sports hall would remain open and in use throughout construction, as far as practicable.

Design approach and location

The new centre is planned for the University’s existing site off Northumberland Road, with its main pedestrian entrance at the corner with Whitham Road. We have also revised the external treatment from the previously proposed black cladding to a bronze tone that better relates to the surrounding area.

The proposals respond to the site’s topography by positioning the new building at a lower level while creating an inviting pedestrian arrival from Whitham Road.

This approach is intended to:

• reduce the visual impact of the building on nearby streets
• provide safe and welcoming access from a key pedestrian and public transport route
• create views across the playing fields towards Crookes Valley
• support safer access from Whitham Road compared with the current access off Northumberland Road and upgraded public realm

Northumberland Road

We know access and movement around Northumberland Road were a key issue during the consultation. Detailed access plans have now been developed for pedestrians, cyclists, visiting team coaches, disabled users, staff, deliveries and maintenance vehicles, both during construction and once the centre is complete. A new pedestrian crossing is proposed at the Northumberland Road / Whitham Road junction to provide a safer, more direct route into the site. Coach drop off for visiting sports teams and school groups will be at a dedicated drop off point behind the Wave.

Changes to the wider Northumberland Road layout are being delivered separately as part of the consented The Wave application. The new pedestrian crossing would form part of the sports centre application and would be delivered through a Section 278 agreement with Sheffield City Council. Its detailed design will be subject to road safety audit and local authority approval.

The crossing has been developed to work with the emerging Northumberland Road layout, including potential one-way vehicle operation with a contra-flow cycle lane if that arrangement is made permanent.

Sustainability and ecology

Sustainability and ecology are central to the project. The project is targeting the highest sustainability and carbon performance benchmarks, with the ambition of achieving the UK Net Zero Carbon Building Standard.

The design will continue to prioritise energy efficiency, passive design, on-site renewable energy, heat recovery and water efficiency. We also want to enhance existing woodland and green corridors and introduce new planting and green infrastructure that supports biodiversity and creates calmer, greener places to spend time.

We will protect mature trees as much as possible, and any trees lost will be replaced on a 2:1 basis in line with the University’s tree replacement policy. The site layout will also avoid disturbing nearby badger setts.

What happens next

Following the event, the revised plans will form the basis of the University’s full planning application to Sheffield City Council.

Once the application has been submitted, there will be a further opportunity for anyone who wishes to do so to formally support or comment on the proposals through the Council’s statutory planning process.

A construction timeline has not yet been confirmed. This will be developed at a later stage and will depend on the planning process, the final business case and further approval through the University’s internal governance processes. We will publish further updates on this page as the project develops.

Questions
For general questions about the project or process, email campusdevelopment@sheffield.ac.uk.