The Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub will be a new community-owned and community-driven facility in the heart of Podsmead, which will support all of the activities that currently take place on the Blackbridge field, as well as substantially improving local access to:

• Affordable sport and exercise facilities

• Support such as counselling, mentoring and advice services

• Learning and skills development for adults and young people

• Youth clubs

• Social and community groups for all ages

Driven by local people and local needs from the outset, the Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub forms part of a bigger regeneration plan for the Podsmead neighbourhood which, despite possessing many positive qualities, has according to government indices been the most disadvantaged in Gloucestershire for at least a decade, including across health and wellbeing measures.

The idea of developing community sport and leisure facilities at Blackbridge has evolved over several years, gaining strategic and financial support from a number of key stakeholders, including Gloucester City Council and Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucester City Homes, the local Clinical Commissioning Group, Sport England, Gloucestershire Football Association, Podsmead Big Local, the Integrated Care Service and Gloucester Athletic Club. More recently a large number of local sports clubs and community organisations have lent their support to the scheme by committing to use of the facilities once they’re built.

Through the Podsmead Big Local, residents have been part of the development throughout and all residents have been invited to a number of consultation events within Podsmead to view plans and ask questions. Regular updates have been posted through doors of all houses in the area and an open channel of communication has been maintained, inviting feedback at every stage which has resulted in amendments to the project’s design.

Residents have also frequently fed back the need to provide better facilities and activities for young people, to support their physical and mental health and provide youth opportunities to help to reduce anti-social behaviour within Podsmead.

Podsmead resident Gerry Hartin said: “For years the lack of provision of youth activities and somewhere for young people to go has increased anti-social behaviour in our area.  The youth club has just restarted but having a decent space where they can be active and creative with their friends supported by funded youth workers is what all young people should have access to.” 

Community driven, community owned

The development of the Blackbridge Sports and Community Hub is being driven by the Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society (Blackbridge CCBS), which was established for the benefit of the community rather than solely for its members.

Once established and open local people will be able to jointly own the organisation by buying shares (£1 each, minimum purchase of 5), which gives them membership and a vote in decisions about the project. Crucially, it also means funds can be raised through community share offers, social investment and from charitable trusts.

The hub will offer football, cricket and rugby, as well as walking and running routes and children’s play plus facilities to support Gloucester Athletics Club which is right next door. On the ground floor of the Hub building there will be a fitness gym offering cardiovascular and resistance equipment as well as free weights and various gym-based fitness classes.

Upstairs there will be a large studio space offering dance, yoga, Pilates and martial arts classes, and a flexible space to host social and cultural events, classes, meetings and training events. A bar and kitchen will offer healthy food and drink options throughout the day and the hub will also offer significant provision for young people including facilities for youth activities and clubs.

Mark Gale, a Director of Blackbridge Charitable Community Benefit Society said: “Understandably some local residents have had concerns and questions, including around increased traffic. Most importantly, this will be a facility for local people and coaches are not permitted onto the site so there shouldn’t be a traffic or parking issue, though the development will create 10 additional parking spaces for residents. A number of options for the access road have been considered, and as a route through a local school was not possible, the most environmentally friendly option is through Laburnum Road, which reduces the amount of new road needed and protects a row of mature trees.”

The Blackbridge Community and Sports Hub proposal was approved by the Gloucester City Council Planning Committee in June, voted through by a 10-1 majority.

Notes for editors:

• According to the 2019 indices, the Podsmead estate is within the top 3% most health deprived areas nationally for people aged 16 – 64.  The indices also cited that 29% of residents do not have a car, increasing the need for better facilities within walking distance.