New sports hub cost rises beyond funding

COUNCIL CABINET ASKED TO APPROVE EXTRA £2M

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

THE costs of a new sports hub for Billingham have risen beyond current funding as council leaders are being asked to approve £2m more for the project.

The hub is expected to cost £12.5m, with the full cost of works to be known in July.

The latest figure goes “in excess of identified available funding” of £10.5m, says a council report, so the cabinet of Stockton Council is being asked to bring in another £2m from funds provided by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

The new facility to be used by grassroots clubs and residents will be on the former Billingham Campus site off Marsh House Avenue and Neasham Avenue.

The sports hub, including a new pavilion building, grass pitches, ballcourts, an athletics enclosure, two full-size artificial pitches and an active track, was given planning permission last month (April 2025).

It had expected to use £4m from the TVCA, a potential £6m from the Football Foundation and £427,000 from developers as part of planning agreements.

Now the TVCA funding is expected to go up to £6m - the full amount provided by the authority to drive economic growth in Billingham - and a business case will be considered. A public consultation showed 79% of 103 respondents were happy or satisfied with the proposals. The council says it changed the proposals following public consultation, including making the pavilion a standalone building rather than an extension, moving an artificial pitch and bringing in ballcourts.