Newcastle City Council to acquire Northumbria Uni’s Bullocksteads Sports Ground

A deal to develop new and improved sports facilities for people in west Newcastle has today (June 30) been confirmed.

Newcastle City Council reached an agreement to acquire Northumbria University’s Bullocksteads Sports Ground – a move the authority said will guarantee high-quality family sports facilities in the area for many years to come.

The 30-acre site, located at Kenton Bank Foot near Newcastle Falcons’ ground, is already home to a number of sports pitches, a pavilion and parking.

The city council’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive Growth, Cllr Ged Bell, said: “I am delighted that, after a lengthy period of negotiation, we have been able to reach an agreement to purchase the Bullocksteads Sports Ground from Northumbria University.

“This deal will secure the future of these existing sports facilities and enable us to improve and upgrade them.”

He added: “Importantly, it means existing and new families in the area will have excellent sports facilities and opportunities close to where they live for many generations to come.”

Northumbria University’s director of campus services, Damon Kent, commented: “Bullocksteads has served us well as a sports centre, and we will still have use of the facility for the whole of the next academic year.

“As we continue to invest in, and build on our success as one of the UK’s top universities for sport, we will be consolidating and enhancing our facilities even further at the nearby Coach Lane campus”

He continued: “This will complement our existing £30m Sport Central in the city centre campus, and will ensure all our students continue to benefit from an excellent and easily accessible range of services. We are also pleased that the legacy of Bullocksteads will continue as a sports and leisure facility for the local community.”

New and improved sports facilities at Bullocksteads would be part funded by contributions from housing developers, which will be building 3,000 homes under the the Callerton masterplan approved by the council’s cabinet last year.

Speaking further, Cllr Bell said: “We have always been committed to listening to residents in this area about sports provision, and have worked really hard to find the best possible solution. We are really pleased to have secured these facilities.”

Details of the deal are in the process of being finalised and are subject to legal agreement.