The second article in our blog series with LK2
Did you know? LK2 is one of only three architects working on the Football Foundation, Football Association and Sport England Frameworks.
We have held this authority for several years and, due to our unrivalled strategic expertise, had the privilege to work alongside public and private sector clients on some incredible projects.
No more so than the wildly anticipated regeneration of the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre, the optioneering and enhancement of the LK2 team created a project with significant social impact that will transform community leisure provision far beyond the Solent.
In our previous article, we discussed how our team catalysed this project, taking it from a £12m project to the £24m redevelopment we see now. In today’s article, we uncover the breadth and value of our stakeholder engagement in spearheading this project’s potential.
Our hybrid team of specialist sports consultants and architects credit the success of this project and others to their expertise in understanding and incorporating the needs of multiple clients and funding partners to maximise income streams and grant aid. Read on to discover more…
From the infancy of the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre back in 2018, our team proactively engaged with a broad remit of Stakeholders and National Governing Bodies, namely Sport England, the Football Association, Football Foundation, Lawn Tennis Association, England Athletics, Snowsport England, England Netball, British Cycling, England & Wales Cricket Board, Skateboard GB and England Hockey.
Through strategic engagement, and utilising full political leverage the team identified challenges and solutions with undeniable social value and commercial benefit. Solutions that have and will continue to enhance community provision, whilst maintaining a firm commitment to sustainability and the environment.
By engaging with stakeholders and NGB’s at the early stages, we have secured the future of the minority sports on the site. The greatly enhanced scheme has enabled the delivery of high-quality self-sustaining, commercially savvy solutions such as that showcased in the proposed design for the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre.
A big part of the team’s approach is a thorough rationalisation of existing provisions. In Southampton this included the Alpine Ski Centre. A facility bustling at peak times and the centre’s most significant revenue driver. However, capacity is at its max, and what worked in 1970 is no longer fit for purpose for present-day demands.
A robust justification of need, and master planning followed, subsequently informing an innovative design solution that offers greater capacity at peak times, boosts footfall and improves visitor experience.
Previous evidence of the effectiveness of our needs analysis can be seen in the Borderville Sports Centre, Stamford, a combined and effective sport and educational facility. The LK2 team studied the wider need for improved sports facilities and how these could link to the ongoing Sport England and FA strategies. The result is a wonderfully complex and shared facility that supports grassroots infrastructure and attracts multi-million-pound grant aid.
However, stakeholder engagement is much more than income generation. Securing the strategic support of National Governing Bodies ensured the Southampton project was aligned with wider strategic objectives and created a comprehensive all-sports approach. An approach that improves accessibility and boosts activity levels for women and girls over 50 and disabled people, all key target demographics in line with Sport England’s objectives.
LK2 has been instrumental in bringing this project and others before it to life and as a team we are confident that this project will provide excellent provisions that will reap commercial returns and enhance community engagement for many years to come.
To find out more about LK2 and their catalytic approach to community leisure regeneration read here.