The University of Leeds has approved funding for a new £5M development of an outdoor closed loop cycling circuit and is now seeking the necessary planning consents from Leeds City Council. Located on the University Bodington playing fields in north Leeds, the development will include a cutting edge, 1.6km tarmac cycle circuit and refurbished Pavilion which hopes to be used as a base for British Triathlon’s elite training centre.
The project will be funded in partnership with UK Sport and British Cycling who will contribute £1M towards the project. The remaining £3.5M being funded by the University of Leeds.
The project team aim to begin work on the development in April 2016 and completion expected in Autumn 2016. The new facilities will be maintained by the University of Leeds and will be open for use by students, staff and the public. British Triathlon should also be based at the new site with access to strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and other support services. Amongst these elite athletes will be Olympic medallists and University of Leeds Alumni Alistair and Jonny Brownlee.
The impressive new development will also support the elite athletes at the University ensuring they have state of the art facilities to train in to achieve their aim of competing on a world class level.
“The University of Leeds excel at cycling and triathlon, and our students are consistently at the top of their sport in the UK. Having these new facilities and British Triathlon based on site will further strengthen this.”
Rob Wadsworth- Head of Sport at the University of Leeds
“We look forward to meeting elected representatives and local residents to explain the plans and answer any questions they may have. Arrangements for a community consultation session are currently being finalised.”
“The University of Leeds is committed to sporting excellence and to opening up its facilities for the benefit of the public and this cycle track is a big part of that.”
Rob Wadsworth- Head of Sport at the University of Leeds
