Further development of Beaumont Park to encourage community use


The second phase of a multi-million pound development will enhance sports facilities for De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) and the local community.

Work on the £3.4 million transformation of Beaumont Park is continuing with a high-tech all-weather sports pitch and an extended and modernised clubhouse.

Beaumont Park- Facilities.WEB

The new 3G artificial pitch with floodlighting will allow American football and rugby to be played at the park for the first time, as well as improving facilities for football games.

Further changing rooms and a new entrance area will be added to the clubhouse. The clubhouse’s function room will also be made bigger to encourage further community use.

Beaumont Park is home to the DMU’s Men’s and Women’s Football Teams and the first phase of redevelopment in 2016 included two FA-standard pitches and the first 3G grass pitch.

Umesh Desai, Director of Estates & Commercial Services at DMU, said: “This is the latest development in DMU’s campus transformation programme.

“Beaumont Park remains popular with staff, students and the community; the facilities are well used every day.

“We are improving the sports facilities as much for the local community as DMU. We hope this will make sport even more attractive to all.

“We are looking forward to the future and hope the improvements will encourage greater participation by the local community.”

DMU has a 25-year lease on the council-owned Beaumont Park on the outskirts of Leicester, but the facilities are widely used by the community, especially those living in Beaumont Leys.

The new 3G pitch will be constructed on the old grass pitches at the rear end of the site. A 3G – or ‘third generation’ – pitch is made of artificial plastic grass ‘blades’ and is suitable for all weather conditions, meaning it can allow for much more use compared to a grass pitch.

Construction machinery has moved onto the site and work has started now that the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues have finished. The new facilities are expected to be completed and in use by the start of the new academic year.

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Umesh, who oversees all building projects on behalf of the university, said: “This work will build on the successful phase one of the development.

“Work on phase two has now started and the majority of work will be carried out over the summer period to minimise disruption. We aim to have the work completed by October.”

DMU students and staff continue to work throughout the Beaumont Leys community as part of #DMUlocal, which runs initiatives to support communities.

DMU has been involved in various projects including raising skills levels, diabetes support, organising community fun days and working with the youth club.

For more information about Beaumont Park and other DMU sporting facilities, visit the website.

Posted on Thursday 29 March 2018

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