PLANS for a new community sports hub for Sale has been unanimously approved by Trafford Council.

The proposals were put forward as part of a plan to redevelop Sale Sports Club to secure the long-term future of the community facility.

A partnership with Hales & Brown will help fund the redevelopment through the sale of surplus land for new local housing.

The club was founded in 1854, and although there has been investment in its sporting facilities and increased participation across its five sports, in the last 15 years the costs of maintaining the ageing changing and social facilities have been a considerable burden and threat to long term viability of the club.

Sale Sports Club President Sue Laister was delighted with the planning consent. She said: “It has long been our ambition to build a new facility and it’s down to the hard work of our volunteers that’s made it a reality. We look forward to working with the local community to help them get more active, and building on the success of our thriving sports sections.”

The scheme, developed with the support of Sport England, the England & Wales Cricket Board and the Lawn Tennis Association, will see the construction of a two-storey community clubhouse and pavilion on the site of the existing sports pavilion in Clarendon Crescent and a new indoor tennis centre.

The club’s cricket facilities will be unaffected and the remaining outdoor tennis courts will be upgraded.

The indoor tennis and multi-sports facility will enable all year around tennis, as well as an expansion to the holiday clubs and Saturday morning multi-sports club, Sale Sporties.

The new clubhouse will deliver Sport England compliant changing facilities that are accessible to everyone and an exercise studio, as well as providing a viewing vista from a bar and function room on the first floor.

The new facilities hope to allow the club to broaden its appeal and contribute to the health and wellbeing of local residents by working with other local organisations to target those who will benefit from increasing their physical activity rates and reduce social isolation.

Construction is expected to start in the spring.

Local MP Mike Kane said: “I welcome the proposed development, it’s great to see such an ambitious investment in the sports facilities in Sale that will benefit the whole community”

“I look forward to working with the club to widen its appeal and reach those who will benefit from increased physical and social activities”