Plans submitted for new sports pitches at University of Salford
The University of Salford’s sports facilities are set for a major upgrade, with plans just submitted to Salford City Council to provide new pitches and facilities on David Lewis Playing Fields, situated near Wallness Lane and Peel Park, Salford.
A CGI of the remodelled David Lewis Playing Fields
If given the green light, the plan is that they would sit alongside the University’s first Padel Courts. Provider Soul Padel is leading the planning application for these on behalf of the University.
The current playing fields at the University offer a 3G pitch for football and rugby plus a grass pitch. The new plans could see the area transformed into three high quality multi-use sports pitches with improved access and on-site changing facilities for use by students, staff and the wider community.
Submitted by the Crescent Partnership (comprising the University of Salford, Salford Council and ECF - a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse), the plans form part of the £2.5bn, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan regenerating this area of the city.
The proposals feature a new 3G all-weather football pitch together with a new 2G all-weather pitch for hockey, tennis and recreational 11-a-side football. One of the existing grass football pitches will be enhanced and a new informal 1km running trail will be added.
The plan features new changing facilities, toilets and shelters as well as EV charging and accessible parking. More effective signage, footpaths and lighting will make the area more welcoming and easier to reach from multiple directions.
The plans offer increased native planting including new trees, a wildflower meadow and better drainage to prevent flooding, and landscaping will make the area more welcoming for residents, students, sports teams and any other visitors.
The University of Salford’s plan to open its first Padel courts has been submitted to Salford City Council. Contractors Soul Padel submitted the planning application for four new covered courts on the University’s Wallness Lane land earlier this year. They will be bookable by students, University staff and people from the local community.
The refurbishment of the playing fields and the new padel courts mark the next stage in the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan which is the major redevelopment of its research, teaching and public spaces.
Mark Wantling, Chief Infrastructure Officer at University of Salford who is leading the transformations said: “At the University of Salford we are proud of our reputation for the quality of our sports education. We teach everything from Sports Psychology and Science to Sports Business Management. Now it’s time to ramp up our commitment to public and community health, by providing high quality facilities which can be used all year round, by students, staff, local sports groups, and members of the public. Combined with our planned Padel Courts, we are aiming for a major overhaul of our campus sports facilities. It’s another example of how we’re reimagining the Crescent area and surrounding estate with our partners in Crescent Salford.”
Max Bentham, Director of development management at ECF, said: “The upgraded David Lewis Playing Fields will enable the community to come together to play a wider range of sports, better utilising this green space, which is unique to Salford. New planting and landscaping will support Crescent Salford’s sustainability goals and footpaths and lighting will make the area more accessible. This aspect of the masterplan will be key to opening up the University’s campus to the wider community and enabling people to benefit from the upgrades being made.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “These proposals are a fantastic step forward for the Crescent and for community sport in Salford. Investing in high-quality, accessible facilities like this will help people of all ages stay active, support local clubs, and create opportunities for students and residents alike. This is exactly the kind of partnership-led regeneration we want to see—delivering real health, social and economic benefits for our communities.”
Work is already underway on several other campus buildings as part of the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan, including a world-class acoustics institute and the Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre. Both will open in 2027. The University’s Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) opened in February and is already helping address important skills gaps in the region.
If plans are approved, work is expected to begin on David Lewis Playing Fields later this year.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the University changing the David Lews playing fields?
We are developing the area to encourage more students, staff and the local community to get involved in sport which has benefits for physical and mental wellbeing.
Here at University of Salford we are proud of our reputation for the quality of our sports education. We teach everything from Sports Psychology and Science to Sports Business Management. This latest development signals our commitment to public and community health, as we will be providing high-quality facilities which can be used all year round, by students, staff, local sports groups, and members of the public.
What is wrong with the current set up, which does not appear to get very much use?
The surface finish of the existing grass pitch is hard to maintain due to waterlogging. The new pitches will have better drainage and technical surfaces to promote year-round use. By expanding the different types of sport that can be played on the pitches we aim to attract greater participation and reduce the requirements for sports teams to travel to other locations across Greater Manchester.
Why can’t all the pitches be grass?
We are exploring options to offer field hockey, american football, 5 a side football, lacrosse and other sports. These are best suited to Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) surfaces that are more usable in a wide degreee of weather conditions. These developments will mean the pitches can be utilised to their full potential all year round, unlike the current provision which cannot be used much of the year when the weather is bad.
Can I still walk my dog on the fields?
There will be plenty of space around the pitch areas for all sorts of recreational activities. Through lighting, CCTV, better pathways and clearer access points we plan to make this area more accessible for all users. But the pitches themselves will be for those taking part in organised sport.
Will the pitches have lighting?
Yes, we plan to install the latest energy efficient LED lighting, which will be sympathetic to nature as well as providing sufficient light for those using the fields. It will be timed to go off during hours of darkness.
Who can use the pitches?
Students and staff of the University as well as members of the local community will be able to use the pitches via a booking system. We are also exploring options with local schools to offer them use of the pitches.
Where will the cars, minibuses and coaches park?
Accessible parking will be available for blue badge holders.
Parking will be available at the existing car parks at Lowry and Delaney. Coaches and minibuses will be directed to public car parks in the area. Due to the location of the fields near the main university campus we will encourage as many people as possible to use active travel methods eg walking, cycling, public transport.
Is there a danger the pitches will attract anti-social behaviour?
We are planning for CCTV, lighting and regular security patrols and vigilance to minimise the opportunity for anti-social behaviour. The University has excellent relationships with the local police and through continued collaboration will do all we can to minimise issues.
The fields are always left covered with sports drink bottles how are you going to manage this?
We are investigating installing a drinking water tap near changing facilities to minimise use of bottles. Also we will have numerous waste recycling bins, regular upkeep by sanitation teams and monitoring of users to minimise this as a problem
What hours can the pitches be used?
Currently we are anticipating use between 08:00 and 22:00 7 days a week.
Where do people get changed?
Since the pandemic most people arrive at sports fields already changed and ready. Modular (quality, temporary) changing facilities will be offered, and changing rooms at the existing Sports Centre are available too.
Are the sports going to lead to noise and disturbance for residents?
The trees surrounding the pitches will provide a natural barrier to the noise. Pads will be used in hockey goals to suppress noise during evening hockey pitch use.
Who is paying for these pitches?
The University of Salford is investing in these facilities for the benefit of students, staff and the local community.
Are artificial pitches bad for the environment?
Whilst we will be replacing natural grass areas with artificial surfaces - we plan to increase the drainage to the sports fields and enhance the biodiversity of the area through additional wildflower meadow and tree planting schemes in line with Biodiversity Net Gain legislation
Existing mature trees along the boundary of the Playing Fields will be retained where practical (with the exception of those required for the new access/ drainage infrastructure). Where trees are lost replacement planting will be carried out.
New native planting will be introduced elsewhere to enhance biodiversity, being mindful of Sport England guidance.
How will you protect the bio-diversity of the area?
The new scheme will enhance the environment at the Playing Fields through increased native planting, including new trees, and other ecological provision together with sustainable drainage measures to reduce surface water flood risk. The pitches are in keeping with Biodiversity Net Gain legislation and exceed the minimum enhancements required by law.
Will it be chaos during construction?
Disruption will be carefully managed and as self-contained as possible. The exact detail will be worked up as part of the planning process.
Will you have to pay to use the pitches?
There will be a charge to use the facilities as is normally the case with pitches like this.
For all press office enquiries please email communications@salford.ac.uk.