West Suffolk Council to continue to explore options for Newmarket sports hub

04 Feb 2026

West Suffolk Council has confirmed it will continue to actively explore options to deliver a much needed sports hub for Newmarket, following a review of the most recent proposal at the St Felix School site.

Multiple schemes with partners have been explored to deliver a sports hub in the town to address the sports provision deficit. Most recently, the council developed and investigated a business case to provide a three-court sports hall, studio and supporting facilities at the rear of the St Felix School site using joint funding from Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council.

However, the St Felix proposal is compromised by significant access issues for construction traffic. In addition, permanent user access would rely on parking at George Lambton Playing Fields, followed by a lengthy walk along a new footpath to reach the new facility. This arrangement would be difficult to manage and presents a high risk of nuisance parking within nearby residential streets. Furthermore, the proposed three-court facility would be modest in scale and, based on discussions with our partners at Abbeycroft, is unlikely to generate sufficient income to cover its operating and maintenance costs as a stand-alone facility. Also, there would be the need to consider other income-generating opportunities, which is similar to the scenario at the former Scaltback School site tested several years ago.

The council has also explored the potential to deliver a larger, more viable sports hub on the George Lambton Playing Fields. This offered better pedestrian and vehicle access, greater potential to expand, improved opportunity to attract grant funding, and support a wider range of sports and users. Despite best efforts, the council has been unable to secure either an extension to the existing lease or the purchase of the freehold from the landowner, both of which would be essential to support such a significant investment.

While the provision of a sports facility for Newmarket remains a priority for West Suffolk Council, it has become clear that the St Felix site presents significant challenges both in terms of delivery, size of facility and the residential issues it would create. As a result, the council will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to identify a way forward, possibly at a new site, to secure a long-term legacy for sport, recreation and wellbeing in the town.

Importantly, the £2 million capital funding from us remains in place and we await confirmation from Suffolk County Council that its £2 million funding to deliver a sports hub in Newmarket does too. 

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council, said: “The council remains committed to addressing the shortage of indoor sports hall provision in Newmarket to support the health and wellbeing of residents. 

“While West Suffolk Council does not itself currently own suitable land within Newmarket to deliver the sports facility the town needs, we will continue to work with partners to explore all possible options. I am pleased that we have agreed with Suffolk County Council to retain the £4 million in funding that will help bring this project forward.

“We are meeting with local sports clubs and key stakeholders in the coming weeks to provide reassurance and discuss next steps to work together and deliver this much needed facility in the town.”

---