£15m Sports Hub in Holbeck Set for Final Approval

Leeds City Council to approve new community sports facility

Leeds City Council is expected to give the final approval for the construction of a new £15 million sports hub in Holbeck at its executive board meeting on 11 March 2026. The project aims to provide enhanced sports facilities and community spaces to benefit local residents.

Details of the Holbeck Sports Hub

The Holbeck Sports Hub will be located on the site of the former Matthew Murray High School, near Brown Lane East and Ingram Road. Work is anticipated to begin in August 2026, with the development including:

• Three full-size artificial grass football pitches
• Two multi-use games areas
• A building containing changing rooms and a café
• A children’s play area
• Walking and running routes through surrounding green space

The new all-weather pitches aim to provide sustainable, high-quality training facilities. This is intended to reduce wear on existing grass pitches and address a shortfall of over 20 all-weather pitches across Leeds.

Additional Community Benefits

There is also an ambition for the hub to include a new GP surgery, which would contribute to the health and wellbeing of the local community. The facility is expected to offer affordable and accessible opportunities for physical activity, play, and social connection.

Partnership and Management

The Holbeck Sports Hub is the third such facility in Leeds to be developed in partnership with the Football Foundation as part of their national Parklife programme. It follows the Woodhall Sports Hub in Calverley, expected to be completed for the 2026/27 playing season, and the Green Park Sports Hub in Temple Newsam, where work is due to start this year.

All three hubs will be managed by the National Football Trust, a not-for-profit organisation. Any surplus income generated will be reinvested into council-owned and other third-party outdoor sports facilities.

Funding and Next Steps

The project is jointly funded by the Football Foundation and Leeds City Council’s capital funding. The council’s executive board is expected to approve the appointment of a contractor to complete the work at the upcoming meeting.

For further details, the full report is available through the council’s official agenda (Agenda item 12).