A KEY milestone took place in the development of a new state-of-the-art sports facility on Friday.

Dignitaries looked on as the first spade went in the ground at the site of the new Parkside Centre in Hoyland Common.

Work has begun on the new community pavilion at the Hoyland Common site, which will also include a café alongside 3G pitches, a purpose-built archery range, activity spaces and changing facilities.

Local MP and Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth Stephanie Peacock was amongst representatives to attend the event alongside leading figures from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation.

The Football Foundation has contributed over £1.5million of funding to the Parkside Centre and once completed, the facilities will cater to both the local area and the borough as a whole for decades to come.

Barnsley Council contributed funding of £2.5m through section 106 funding for the project.

Councillor James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: “The new Parkside Centre at Hoyland Common will provide a state-of-the-art facility to greatly improve the health and social wellbeing of not just local residents but everyone across the borough.

“Significant investment from the council and the Football Foundation will greatly improve the existing facilities in the area and offer increased opportunities for more people to enjoy the benefits of a healthier and more active lifestyle.

“Improving the health and wellbeing of our residents is a key element of our Barnsley 2030 ambitions and the Parkside centre will provide the means to do just that.

“I’d like to thank Stephanie Peacock MP for visiting the site to show her support for the development and I look forward to seeing the work on the site completed.”

Stephanie Peacock, MP for Barnsley South and Minister for Sport said: "We want as many people as possible to get involved in sport and physical activity for the host of benefits it brings.

"Forge Parkside Centre is a great example of a high-quality grassroots facility that will help residents of Hoyland and Birdwell, and those across Barnsley."

Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners – the Premier League, The FA and Government – to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.

“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.

“We’re delighted that works are now underway to deliver Forge Parkside Centre and we’re excited to see the new facilities in action.”

Once fully completed in July 2025, the new Parkside Centre will bring a wealth of benefits to the local area, increase the amount of people who can use and benefit from the facilities in Hoyland Common, provide more playing time for football

and support our ambitions to support residents to feel the physical and mental benefits of being more physically active for good health.

The centre will be funded by Barnsley Council and the Football Foundation who will oversee the building of the facility with the local community organisation Forge Community Partnership managing the site once it is completed.