THE creation of a new sports centre in Kempsey has taken a step forward as hundreds of thousands of pounds have been handed to start the project.

A grant of £339,650 was given to Kempsey Parish Council to begin work on a new community and sports centre on Pixham Ferry Lane. 

The money is the first instalment from Malvern Hills District Council and will go towards the design and planning approval stages.

The new centre is set to include a new community building, sports facilities and other recreational spaces.

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Kempsey Parish Council should receive a total of £1,739,452 from the district council after it gained conditional approval for the grant in May 2022. The section 106 grant will come from money the council receives from developers.

The grant was the largest amount the MHDC has ever awarded to support the development of public open space and community facilities anywhere within the Malvern Hills district.

When the grant was secured, Cllr David Harrison, portfolio holder for Planning, Infrastructure and Flooding at MHDC and Kempsey Ward member, said: “This huge investment in Kempsey’s community infrastructure supports Malvern Hills District Council’s Five Year Plan priority to invest in new open space provision, play areas, playing pitches and community facilities.

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“It will be a wonderful addition to the area, and we will work with Kempsey Parish Council to help make it a reality.

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“I would like to thank all the staff at Malvern Hills for their support and dedication to get this application for funding ‘over the line'."

The money will eventually enable phase one of the project, which includes sports pitches, changing rooms, a community space, a car park, and storage areas.

The wider master plan envisages a kitchen/café, office space, a play area, and two large community spaces for meetings, indoor activities, and events.

Plans for a skate park, pump track, and trim trail are also under consideration.

The parish council is also working with partners to develop the wildlife potential of the site.

In total, the project is expected to cost £2.1 million.

The site, planned to overlook the Lower Ham and the River Severn, has taken the Kempsey Parish Council over nine years to develop a strategic development plan that is underpinned by its Neighbourhood Plan.