Council commits to enhancing grassroots sport and recreation at Knights Grange

Cheshire West and Chester Council has committed to working with the local community to develop and enhance grassroots sport and community use at the Knights Grange complex in Winsford.

The Council will work with a range of local stakeholders to ensure that Knights Grange remains a sustainable, multi-use complex for sport, recreation and nature conservation. The site will be protected from housing and other commercial development and investment made to ensure that it remains an important community asset for the people of Winsford long into the future.

The project will support participation in grassroots sports such as football, tennis, cricket, athletics, and fishing through improvements to facilities. It also aims to connect local communities to nature and the outdoors. Improved cycleways and footpaths will link the park with Weaver Valley and Whitegate Way. New and improved woodland, nature conservation sites and habitats will be created to encourage wildlife, improve biodiversity and help to combat the effects of climate change. Unused buildings on the site will be refurbished and redeveloped for use as part of the wider complex.

The project is part of the Council’s wider vision for Winsford as a thriving and vibrant place to live, work, learn and play. In the town centre, the first phase of the Council’s ambitious £22.5 million regeneration project is currently under construction. It is the biggest investment in the town centre shopping area since the 1960s. Winsford is a growing town and Knights Grange is part of the Council’s commitment to providing better opportunities for healthy lifestyles, access to sports facilities and a great place to live.

Knights Grange is a key part of the Council’s Sports Facilities Strategy. Working with stakeholders, the Council wants investment in Knights Grange to increase participation in sports and outdoor recreation, support existing and new grassroots sports organisations, tackle health inequalities and improve wellbeing, and promote active travel such as walking and cycling.

Over the past four years, Cheshire Football Centre Ltd has been working on proposals for a new multisport facility and associated hotel at the site. The Council had been supporting the project which was to be delivered through a combination of commercial income and grant funding from national bodies. However, increased construction and borrowing costs, and the lack of availability of external grant funding, limited the ability of Cheshire Football Centres, to progress the scheme.

Terry Harrop, Chair of Cheshire Football Centre Ltd, stated:

“It is with much regret that we are no longer able to deliver our ambitions for a multi-sports centre on the site. Unfortunately, wider economic conditions and a lack of ability to secure significant third-party funding has meant that we and our partners Ion Developments are not able to make the project work, despite support from Cheshire West and Chester Council.”

The Council will now work with sports clubs, local residents and a range of other stakeholders to develop plans for the future of the site.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:

“Following the news that Cheshire Football Centre Ltd are unable to deliver their proposals for a multisport facility at Knights Grange, I am pleased that Cheshire West and Chester Council has stepped up and committed to make Knights Grange an even better sports and recreation facility.

“Knights Grange is already a fantastic asset for the people of Winsford, but the Council recognises it needs investment and that the community needs certainty about its future. Knights Grange will continue to provide recreation opportunities for all of our residents, and its future is secure as the Council will protect the whole of the site from inappropriate development such as housing.

“Knights Grange will continue as a hub for grassroots sports, outdoor recreation, and the enjoyment of nature, as identified in the Council’s Local Plan and supported by its Fields in Trust status. To deliver this, the Council will work with local residents, sporting groups and other stakeholders on an ongoing investment programme for the complex to provide a place that’s open for the whole town to enjoy.

“Along with the town centre regeneration, the continuing increase in new jobs and businesses, and new high-quality homes for families, Knights Grange is one of the key ingredients which make Winsford such an attractive place for people to call their home.”

Tim Ashcroft, Chair of the Knights Grange Residents’ Steering Group, said:

“The challenges of the last few years from COVID and many other factors have meant the original development plan proved to be undeliverable. This is a fact of life we know that many other projects and developments have had to face. We are pleased, however, to see that this has now evolved into a long term, more sustainable, and more deliverable vision and plan which puts Knights Grange at the heart of our community.

“Knights Grange is more than just sports fields. It is a place where Winsford residents of all ages come for leisure, exercise, to meet, and to enjoy the outdoors and nature. It is a key asset for our community which we are pleased to see Cheshire West and Chester Council are now taking the lead to protect and develop, and we look forward to working with them.”

The Council is keen to understand the views of local residents, existing clubs and users of Knights Grange to develop a plan for the site which can develop over time. More information on this will be made available in due course.

To find out more about the Knights Grange project, visit the Council website:

Knights Grange | Cheshire West and Chester Council