A £23.9m investment to build two sporting facilities in Leeds has been given the green light.
The two hubs, Woodhall in Calverley and Green Park in Temple Newsam, were proposed by Leeds City Council and the Football Foundation, which aims to improve grassroots sporting facilities across the UK.
Three artificial outdoor pitches, a pavilion building and play areas are planned for each site, which would be completed by the end of September 2026.
Councillor Salma Arif said: “Not only will they offer superb new sports facilities; these hubs will become focal points for entire communities to make use of and enjoy.”
The hubs would be managed by the not-for-profit National Football Trust and all surplus income would be reinvested in outdoor sports facilities across Leeds.
Arif described the project as “wonderful” and said it would support people of all ages to live “active and healthy lifestyles”.
The development at Green Park would also include a large hard court suitable for hockey, basketball and wheelchair sports. Running and walking routes are planned for the park.
The pavilion building at each site would provide a cafe, social space, toilets and changing rooms, the council said.
The Woodhall development and the new pitches at Green Park would open by August next year, with the remaining facilities at the second site opening the following month.
Leeds City Council, the Football Foundation and private contributions would pay for the sites’ construction.
The council said proposals for a third site, at the former Matthew Murray High School in Holbeck, were in development.
Councillors approved the Woodhall and Green Park projects at a meeting on Wednesday.
