Plans submitted for new sports pitches at University of Salford

The University of Salford’s sports facilities are set for a major upgrade, with plans just submitted to Salford City Council to provide new pitches and facilities on David Lewis Playing Fields, situated near Wallness Lane and Peel Park, Salford.

If given the green light, the plan is that they would sit alongside the University’s first Padel Courts. Provider Soul Padel is leading the planning application for these on behalf of the University.

The current playing fields at the University offer a 3G pitch for football and rugby plus a grass pitch. The new plans could see the area transformed into three high quality multi-use sports pitches with improved access and on-site changing facilities for use by students, staff and the wider community.

Submitted by the Crescent Partnership (comprising the University of Salford, Salford Council and ECF – a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse), the plans form part of the £2.5bn, 240-acre Crescent Salford masterplan regenerating this area of the city.

The proposals feature a new 3G all-weather football pitch together with a new 2G all-weather pitch for hockey, tennis and recreational 11-a-side football. One of the existing grass football pitches will be enhanced and a new informal 1km running trail will be added.

The plan features new changing facilities, toilets and shelters as well as EV charging and accessible parking. More effective signage, footpaths and lighting will make the area more welcoming and easier to reach from multiple directions.

The plans offer increased native planting including new trees, a wildflower meadow and better drainage to prevent flooding, and landscaping will make the area more welcoming for residents, students, sports teams and any other visitors.

The University of Salford’s plan to open its first Padel courts has been submitted to Salford City Council. Contractors Soul Padel submitted the planning application for four new covered courts on the University’s Wallness Lane land earlier this year. They will be bookable by students, University staff and people from the local community.

The refurbishment of the playing fields and the new padel courts mark the next stage in the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan which is the major redevelopment of its research, teaching and public spaces.

Mark Wantling, Chief Infrastructure Officer at University of Salford who is leading the transformations said: “At the University of Salford we are proud of our reputation for the quality of our sports education. We teach everything from Sports Psychology and Science to Sports Business Management.

“Now it’s time to ramp up our commitment to public and community health, by providing high quality facilities which can be used all year round, by students, staff, local sports groups, and members of the public. Combined with our planned Padel Courts, we are aiming for a major overhaul of our campus sports facilities. It’s another example of how we’re reimagining the Crescent area and surrounding estate with our partners in Crescent Salford.”

Max Bentham, Director of development management at ECF, said: “The upgraded David Lewis Playing Fields will enable the community to come together to play a wider range of sports, better utilising this green space, which is unique to Salford. New planting and landscaping will support Crescent Salford’s sustainability goals and footpaths and lighting will make the area more accessible. This aspect of the masterplan will be key to opening up the University’s campus to the wider community and enabling people to benefit from the upgrades being made.”

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “These proposals are a fantastic step forward for the Crescent and for community sport in Salford. Investing in high-quality, accessible facilities like this will help people of all ages stay active, support local clubs, and create opportunities for students and residents alike. This is exactly the kind of partnership-led regeneration we want to see—delivering real health, social and economic benefits for our communities.”

Work is already underway on several other campus buildings as part of the University’s Campus Connectivity Plan, including a world-class acoustics institute and the Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre. Both will open in 2027. The University’s Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) opened in February and is already helping  address important skills gaps in the region.

If plans are approved, work is expected to begin on David Lewis Playing Fields later this year.