A visionary new cricket clubhouse on Victoria Embankment in Nottingham, has officially been handed over thanks to the pioneering Field of Dreams Project.
Nottingham-based contractor Willmott Dixon was one of more than 50 local partners which helped to build the brand new dedicated cricket clubhouse on Victoria Embankment at the Meadows Recreation Ground.
The contractor teamed up with Trent Bridge Community Trust- representing Nottinghamshire Cricket Club & Nottinghamshire Cricket Board, Nottingham City Council and Maber architects to deliver the project.
The new clubhouse hopes to drive the trust’s aim of maintaining cricket’s status as the sport of choice for the city of Nottingham and the wider county.
Nick Heath, operations director at Willmott Dixon in the East Midlands, said: “We are extremely proud to have been part of this project which is driving important sporting initiatives across Nottingham, encouraging more people to engage with Nottingham’s cricketing heritage.
“We selected this project as the Willmott Dixon Foundation regional Trainee Challenge Project for 2015, meaning we were able to provide a number of young people opportunities to gain real, on the job experiences throughout last year.”
The new clubhouse houses four changing rooms, toilets, showers, disability access, and rooms for officials, kitchen area, and external viewing area.
The total project cost was £750,000. Funding was received from Sport England,the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), WREN, Nottingham City Council, the Trent Bridge Community Trust, Nottinghamshire Cricket Board and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Willmott Dixon and Maber architects teamed up with Trent Bridge Community Trust to deliver the project, which also received contributions and goodwill from more than 50 local businesses.
Cllr Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: “The new cricket clubhouse on The Meadows Recreation Ground will provide a superb resource for the local community and will encourage the continued playing of cricket by local clubs. It’s important that we offer high quality, modern facilities which are designed in keeping with the local surroundings to enable people in Nottingham to take part in and enjoy sport.”
Around £360,000 came from the goodwill of Nottingham architects Maber which is designing the scheme and Willmott Dixon which worked on the project alongside its supply chain partners.
Tracey Francis of the Trent Bridge Community Trust said: “Every partner involved in the project has worked through their supply chain partners, and have extended the partnership to some 50 partners getting involved in the project. Bringing together a multitude of skills, services, expertise and goods either free of charge or at below cost price.
“We are truly grateful to Willmott Dixon and all our partner organisations, as we would never would have reached this point if it wasn’t for their hard work and support.”
The project has attracted massive support from other local partner organisations and supporters – 50 in all. They include: project managers Faithful & Gould, engineers Curtins, engineers Couch Perry Wilkes, Jewsons, Derry Building Services, Plaza, Caxtons Builders, Rilmac, Midland Building Products, J Wright Roofing, & AR Signs.
