Work starts on sports hub following football grant

Work has started on a new sports hub in East Sussex following a £3.5m grant from the Premier League, The FA and the government’s Football Foundation.

Construction on Wealden Community Sports Hub, by Sunninghill Contractors, is expected to be completed in 2026.

The hub near Hailsham will have two floodlit full-sized artificial football pitches, four dual-use floodlit netball/tennis courts and two padel tennis courts.

Kelvin Williams, the district council's lead for public health and asset management, said the site would be a "fantastic asset for all Wealden residents".

The site, which will also have a skate park and cafe, will be operated on a not-for-profit basis by charity Leisure United and managed by The National Football Trust.

Any surplus income from the facility will be reinvested into local grassroots sports.

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