Source: Middlesbrough Council

New photographs show the progress on site at the new community and sports facility in east Middlesbrough.

The state-of-the-art new hub will replace the former Southlands Centre on Ormesby Road.

Construction started last summer with a steel frame quickly erected, but drone shots show the work, being carried out by Wharton Construction, is now well under way.

The ambitious scheme to deliver top-class sports, education and community facilities is led by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation.

The Foundation will run the site when opens in the coming months and relocate staff from its Riverside Stadium HQ. 

It will provide a base for grassroots football, youth programmes, mentoring, employability training and more – supporting people of all ages to get active, gain new skills and connect with their community.

Head of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation, Charlotte Dinsdale said:

“We’re incredibly proud to see the Southlands community and sports hub coming to life. This is so much more than a facility – it’s a new home for opportunity, growth and community spirit. 

“The hub will support everything from education and employability programmes to inclusive community activity and sport that boosts health and wellbeing. 

“Most importantly, it will be a place where people can connect and thrive, and we’re excited to play our part in making that happen.”

As well as a new community hub, the first phase of construction will see upgrades to the current 3G football pitch and, as can already be seen on the drone photographs, improvements to grass football pitches and open spaces to support additional physical activities. 

Further extensions and improvements to the site are planned in future phases.

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said:

“It’s wonderful to see work on the site progressing so well. It underlines our commitment to investing in our communities in East Middlesbrough.

“One of my key aims as mayor is to make Middlesbrough a healthier place and improve the lives of young people in our town.

“When this fantastic facility opens it will give everyone, no matter what their background is, the opportunities they deserve.”

The Foundation have recently been awarded additional funding from Garfield Weston Foundation, matching the pledge the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund made towards the project, with the aim to improve infrastructure and harness the power of football to strengthen communities.

Late last year, Park-End born Chris Kamara – who played football at the former Southlands as a youngster – toured the site and said: “I know first-hand how much this community loves its sport and deserves top-class facilities. 

“Seeing the Southlands Hub take shape is emotional and exciting – it’s going to be a game-changer for people here.”