Cardiff City House of Sport, Cardiff University and Cardiff Council previously announced last December that the planning application for the Llanrumney Sports Complex on Cardiff University’s Sports fields had been approved by the Cardiff Council Planning department. We are now delighted to announce that the works on the development have officially commenced on site.

The collaboration between Cardiff Council, Cardiff University and House of Sport will deliver a state-of-the-art sports complex to serve Cardiff University and the Llanrumney community sports Trust. 

The Complex will continue to be the home of outdoor sport for Cardiff University and will become the new home for Cardiff City Football Club Academy, with the former Llanrumney High School playing fields housing the community sports Trust. The project includes the creation of a Tier-2 3G football facility, a floodlit 3G IRB standard rugby pitch, a dual IRB/FIFA standard football/rugby pitch and a new synthetic hockey pitch to complement existing facilities. This will provide Cardiff University, their students and local sports clubs access to a diverse range of state-of-the-art training and playing facilities. 

The community element of the project for the newly created Trust has already received a boost with a grant from the FAW towards the community changing pavilion and a commitment from Cardiff University to maintain the pitches alongside the Trust staff. This will preserve and enhance a valuable community asset. The focus of the trust will be a “sport for all” ethos with both male and female programmes. 

Cardiff City Academy will occupy circa 16 acres of the site utilising the former Dr. Who building which will house a two-story accommodation block with offices, classrooms, lecture theatres, canteen changing facilities and a 3G indoor pitch, in addition to external synthetic and grass pitches.

Steve Borley, CCHOS Director commented: “Finally, after a lot of hard work between all parties we are now able to deliver on our bold ambition to provide a sustainable multi-purpose facility in the East of Cardiff. There are huge benefits for all including Cardiff University students, Cardiff City Academy and especially the local sports Clubs. I wish to thank our partners in the project – Cardiff University and Cardiff council – for recognising the benefits in joining forces in this collaborative investment.”

Cardiff University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, Claire Morgan said: “I am absolutely delighted that work has begun on this significant upgrade to our sports facilities, which will see them transformed into some of the best sport pitch provision in the UK.”

“This project offers a much-needed boost for our students’ sporting experience. It means more students will be able to benefit from sport whichwe know can help enhance and maintain mental health, boost academic achievement, and increase employability prospects.”

Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development at Cardiff Council, said: “This new state-of-the-art facility will not only benefit students from Cardiff University and the Cardiff City Football Academy, but the wider community of Llanrumney, as local rugby and football clubs will have access to the facility.”

“The project is an excellent example of partnership working and is an important part of the Council’s strategy to improve Llanrumney, which also includes new housing schemes and a bridge to connect directly into the A48.”

Cardiff City FC’s Executive Director and CEO, Ken Choo, commented: “Tan Sri Vincent Tan and all of us on the board at Cardiff City Football Club see this fantastic development as one of the Club’s cornerstones going forward. It is exciting times for the Academy coming back to Cardiff as we seek to build on the success of the recent influx of young players into our First Team squad.”

“The investment will improve the quality of our facilities and future proof the Academy for years to come as we seek to drive standards and quality throughout the program of developing our young players into professional footballers.”

The University will administer the scheduling of the University sports fields and all related all-weather pitch bookings other than those operated by Cardiff City Academy. All enquires can be made via Cardiff University.