Councillor Pat Patel (Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure & Sport) introduced the report on Brickfields and highlighted:-

a)    The report set out the £21 million investment in Brickfields that would not only transform the site but also the opportunities available to the Devonport communities and across the city, as well as providing new opportunities for Plymouth’s professional sports clubs;

b)    The project had been developed cross party and in partnership with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion  and Devonport Community Leisure Trust;

c)    It would increase participation in grassroots rugby;

d)    Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Plymouth Argyle Community Trust would be investing £18 million;

e)    The project showed the ambition for better access to facilities for local people, and a commitment to improve their health and wellbeing;

Andrew Parkinson (Chief Executive Officer, Plymouth Argyle Football Club) and Mark Lovell (Chief Executive, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust) added:-

f)     The project would enhance and underused site and would improve facilities for the local community, whilst also providing and exemplar multi-sport venue for Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Plymouth Albion, amongst others, to use;

g)    One of the aims was to be able to attract, retain and develop the best sporting talent in the city as well as connecting the local community with the site through a hub;

h)    Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, along with partners had engaged with local people and the themes that emerged was a desire for indoor spaces, improved outdoor spaces, a community offering at a low cost, versatility, health and wellbeing, open spaces, café and youth engagement;

i)     There would be two floodlit play zones which would be open to the community as well as a full size 3G rugby pitch, the only one in the city, as well as a full size 3G football pitched which would have community usage;

j)     The athletics track would be retailed and a 3G covered indoor pitch, the first in the south west, all of which would be connected by active walkways around the complex;

k)    A dedicated site would be provided for the displaced hockey group;

l)     A community hub would be available on site with a health and wellbeing offering, a centralised youth zone for young people to access with education and employment opportunities, hub breakout spaces for social interaction and family engagement, increased formal and informal activities on site, improved gym offering at a low cost with increased hours of access;

m)  Plymouth City Council would retain the freehold and there would be three leases: Plymouth Argyle Football Club, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust and Plymouth Albion;

n)    The operational community aspects would be overseen by the trust with a deed granting easement over the common areas and there would be regular meetings with a board of key stakeholders;

o)    Plymouth Argyle is trusted within Plymouth and the Plymouth Argyle Community Trust had a proven record within the city at Manadon in developing community facilities and would be applying for grants that wouldn’t  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122