The third (but not final!) instalment in our insightful LK2 blog series.

When we reflect on the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre project and the designs we have crafted, we see stunning buildings reflective of their parkland setting and their responsibility as the heart of a community.

The designs due to be approved in the next few weeks are an architectural feat, a marriage of contextual and contemporary, natural hues and living green walls. A building that promotes biodiversity and is as much a home for the parklands wildlife inhabitants as it is a house of sport and leisure.

In the series’ previous article, we highlighted LK2’s role in uniting stakeholders and bringing such a project to fruition. In today’s article, we unlock the community impact and examine what will be mass improvements in grassroots sports provision for the Southampton community.

Through our guidance of this project, we have extended the scope of this redevelopment, overcoming challenges to ensure the build is positioned as a positive focus within the natural landscape. Our imaginative design not only counteracting tree removal and site topography issues but also boosts the landscape with additional planting to be enjoyed for many years.

However, this project’s benefits are more significant than the immediate landscape. Longevity is a crucial current running throughout this community demand-led build. The proposed wide-ranging sport and leisure improvements will promote all-year use and improve accessibility for target groups. On opening, the venue is expected to attract 260k visitors per annum.

LK2 has broken the mould in designing this multi-faceted facility, transforming community sport and leisure provision. The design will facilitate improved access to sports such as football, tennis, cricket, cycling, netball, hockey, athletics and Snowsports and offer a more sustainable and modernised community sport and leisure offer to be enjoyed by generations in Southampton and the wider Solent community.

At the central juncture of this design is the Community Hub; in its prime position, the hub enjoys elevated views across the park. Designed to achieve excellent BREEAM standards with optimum environmental efficiencies and performance, the hub is a source of social connection and a pivotal place for a new sports hall with indoor tennis and netball courts.

The Community hub, nestled within the green landscape, also significantly enhances the business plan by offering a wide range of revenue-generating facilities, including the fitness suite café, external terraces, and a portfolio of flexible meeting and health and well-being spaces.

Accentuating the community offer and securing the centre’s role as a key Snowsports destination on the South coast and further afield is the redevelopment of the Alpine Ski Centre.

The proposed design sees an overhaul of the restrictive facilities, all the existing ski slopes and lifts replaced, and an extended learner slope to maximise commercial revenue. Anchoring the ski experience is a new two-storey ski lodge, a perfect social space that enjoys panoramic views of the park from its elevated position.

Further improvements include a new athletics grandstand, clubhouse and changing facilities, car parking and cycle park. The former boating lake will also be transformed into a family zone providing open space access to an outdoor gym, ‘learn to ride’ cycling, skatepark, and children’s play.

Regardless of your sporting preference, or level of physical activity, it is clear the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre will be a community hive of sport, health and well-being, and leisure opportunities. Healthy communities are at the heart of this LK2 project, and in developing participation opportunities, the team has embraced the community’s character, spirit, and image to ensure a rejuvenated facility that belongs.

To find out more about LK2 and our expertise in stakeholder engagement, read here.