Manchester People -Autumn 2009 Issue 40

Plans for a £24million national in- door BMX centre at Sportcity have taken a leap forward after being approved by the Council.

The 110,000sq ft building will, together with the existing Manchester Velodrome, form the National Cycling Centre, Britain's home of cycling. It will include a 2,000-seat capacity BMX area and the office headquarters of the British Cycling Federation.

These facilities - round the corner from Philips Park - will offer elite athletes, schools and the wider community a unique opportunity to access a world-class track. Although it will be used by the British Olympic BMX team, it will also be an important community facility for local young people.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, said: "Manchester Velodrome has already proved itself to be a gold medal factory and we expect that this world-class centre for BMX next door will bring more medals to the city. Combined with our world-class outdoor BMX track in Platt Fields Park and the planned outdoor cycling facilities close to Sportcity in Philips Park and the Medlock Valley, it all adds up to a great package for BMX riders, from the grass roots to potential Manchester cycling stars of the future."

The National Cycling Centre will be surrounded by new and improved public spaces, including out- door freestyle cycling areas, together forming one of the UK's first veloparks. Routes around the site for pedestrians and cyclists will be created, including new pathways and a new crossing over the canal to enable better access to public transport.

It is expected work on the scheme will start by January 2010 and be completed by March 2011.