Crewe’s Cumberland Arena upgrade takes a major leap forward

An upgrade to a premier athletics and football venue in Crewe has taken a major leap forward.

The improvement scheme at the town’s Cumberland Arena is a step nearer the finishing line after the steel frame structure for a new two-storey building was erected.

The building will house three multi-functional studio spaces, a balcony and covered seating for spectators and a new reception area. Included in the scheme will be additional parking spaces, EV charging points, improved access for pedestrians and cyclists, and bike shelters.

Salford-based MC Construction is the main contractor for the redevelopment, working alongside professionals including building surveyor David Trowler Associates, structural engineer ABA Consulting, and mechanical and electrical engineer Crookes Walker Consulting.

The project is being led by Cheshire East Council and Everybody Health and Leisure, the borough’s leisure trust. It is supported by the government’s Towns Fund allocation to Crewe.

It is part of Cheshire East Council’s strategy to offer enhanced health and wellbeing opportunities for Crewe residents and encourage more people to take up physical activity.

The studios will be open seven days a week for dance classes, Pilates, yoga and other activities, as well as for programmes and events involving educational, social and community groups.

The new building has been designed to support Cheshire East’s environmental ambitions and will feature LED lighting, solar panels on the roof and air source heat pumps. There will also be an external living wall.

Work began earlier this year with the demolition of an existing building.

Following the installation of the steel frame, the next phase of works will involve completing the structure with concrete flooring, a brick finish to the ground floor exterior and cladding for the first-floor exterior. After that, the building will be fitted out. The project is scheduled for completion next spring.

The Cumberland Arena is used by Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club and other local running clubs including Sandbach Striders, Alsager Runners, South Cheshire Harriers and Congleton Harriers. Several local football clubs train or play home games on the arena’s 3G artificial grass pitch.

Changing rooms for people using those facilities remain in use in a single-storey building next to the new structure.

Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “Working once again alongside our longstanding client Cheshire East Council, we are proud to be the main contractor to carry out this important upgrade to Cumberland Arena.

“The project will deliver greatly improved facilities for the area and aims to inspire more people to take up physical activity, in line with the council’s commitment to providing enhanced health and wellbeing opportunities.

“Alongside this, the design will support the council’s aims to become carbon neutral, with a number of significant environmental features.

“We look forward to delivering the scheme next spring and seeing the new facilities becoming a popular addition to the Cumberland Arena.”

Tony Davison, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: “The upgrade of Crewe’s Cumberland Arena is going to be hugely beneficial to so many people and clubs in the town and I am delighted that we have managed to utilise the government’s Town Fund allocation for this work.

“I’m very excited to see how this very inclusive facility is going to be received when it opens next spring.”