Coventry City should be able to use to continue to use the Alan Higgs Centre for their Academy matches, training etc.
Wasps had wanted a training base on the site but have said that they don't want to hold up the wider development of the site.
The Alan Higgs Centre, Coventry Sports Foundation, Wasps and Coventry City Council have today issued the following joint press statement:
"A planning application has been submitted ahead of building a new state-of-the-art 50- metre swimming pool for the city.
If successful, the application would see the pool built at the Alan Higgs Centre off Allard Way.
It would be created on the site of the current indoor pitch, which is proposed to be replaced elsewhere on the site as part of the application.
The new indoor pitch would be ready for community use in September 2018 with the pool anticipated to be open to the public around May 2019.
The application has been submitted by Coventry And Warwickshire Award Trust (CAWAT), which owns the Alan Higgs Centre. The new facilities would continue to be managed by Coventry Sports Foundation, with Wasps agreeing to create new their training complex elsewhere in the local area.
Paul Breed, Chief Executive of Coventry Sports Foundation, believes the planning application is a major milestone for the development.
He said: “It has been a lot of hard work but it is great to finally get the application in as we are committed to providing top quality community facilities similar to those at our other centres – Centre AT7 and the Xcel Leisure Centre.
“As well as a new state-of-the-art 50-metre swimming pool, we are re-providing the indoor pitch meaning that the extensive community use of this facility will not be lost as a result of the swimming pool development.”
Councillor Kamran Caan, Coventry City Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, is delighted the new swimming pool has moved a step closer.
He said: “It is well known that we have given a commitment to look for an alternative to the existing, and aging, 50-metre pool at Fairfax Street which is no longer fit-for-purpose and loses significant money in annual subsidy – money we would rather invest each year in other services.
“Working with partners, we are now a step closer in helping to deliver a state-of-the-art, 50-metre swimming pool that will benefit the city and beyond and is in line with my commitment to support a more active city.”
Wasps Chief Executive Nick Eastwood said: “Unfortunately it has not proved possible to coordinate our own plans with the time frame needed for the construction of the pool and related complex, and we do not want to hold up the wider development in any way.
“A number of separate sites have been identified as providing viable options for our training ground needs, including what is currently our preferred site. Those avenues are being actively pursued and are in an advanced stage of discussion.”
More on this - https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/wasps-pull-out-of-7m-training-centre-plan-on-higgs-centre-site-of-coventry-citys-lifeblood-academy/