Improving Dale Road Park for the Community
We're proposing an extension to the existing community facility - and we want your views
Dale Road Park is an important community asset.
We know that local people care about protecting it, and we recognise that previous proposals for development on the park have caused concern.
That’s why we are consulting with residents before finalising the proposal.
Our aim is to improve an existing community facility while keeping the impact on the park and surrounding residents as small as possible.
Who are we?
The project is being led by Dale Road Park Sports and Community Hub Community Interest Company. This organisation is a collaboration made up of two partnering groups within Spondon, Friends of Spondon Parks and Spondon Rovers Football Club
Dale Road Park Sports and Community Hub
The CIC was formed by local people who share a commitment to improving facilities and opportunities for the Spondon community. We are a Community Interest Company, meaning our focus is on creating lasting community benefit rather than private profit.
We recently adopted the Dale Road Park community building with a simple ambition: to bring an unused community asset back to life. We want to work with local residents, clubs, organisations and the wider community to understand what is needed and explore how the building could once again become a valued, welcoming place for people in Spondon.
Friends of Spondon Parks
Friend of Spondon Parks are a small community based group with a passion for our local parks.
The aim of the group is to
- Ensure that the parks of Spondon meet the needs of the community.
- Provide areas that are safe for all park users to enjoy.
- Develop Park facilities to support future community needs.
The FOSP Executive Committe consists of three people covering roles of Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.
For more information about FOSP, visit our website.
Spondon Rovers FC
Spondon Rovers Football Club is a local football club with 14 teams ranging from U7's to U17's, both girls and boy, of all abilities and diversity. There are over 188 young people who play for Spondon Rovers FC.
The Club do not currently have a home ground but are in negotiations with Derby City Council to manage and maintain the Dale Road Park Changing Rooms and pitches.
Currently the club pays out for training facilities and pitches elsewhere in Derby City.
Spondon Rovers FC has the following values:
- Support young people to safely participate and enjoy football.
- Be an inclusive football club.
- Support and enhance the community and develop positive relationships with local residents.
- Educate young people about healthy eating, attitude and living.
Why are we doing this?
The community building on Dale Road Park has tremendous potential to better serve the community in meaningful ways. This project aims to explore innovative approaches to redevelop the existing building, enhancing its functionality and appeal. We envision introducing new facilities that could include multi-purpose meeting spaces, updated changing rooms, a café, and improved outdoor areas for community use. By maximizing the use of the community building, we can create a vibrant hub that fosters community engagement and supports a diverse range of activities for all residents.
The current facility provides
- Changing facilities
- Toilets
However, it has limitations
- The changing facilities are no longer fit for purpose as they do not meet safeguarding requirements.
- There is no community space within the building
The proposed extension would
- Add new spaces for the community to use
- Introduce a Café and social space
- Add changing facilities meeting the latest safeguarding standards
- Add a ‘Changing Spaces’ accessible changing room.
The project will support
- The local community
- Park Users
- Sport Teams
Our objective is to improve the existing community facility while protecting the character and amenity of the park
What are we proposing?
The proposal is an extension to the existing building. This would create a 455m2 space available for the community to use. The extension would include
- A community Hall
- A café space
- New changing facilities
- A ‘Changing Places’ changing room
- Toilets
- Storage
- Covered Terrace
Why this location?
The extension builds on the existing footprint of the facility extending the east and south sides.
This keeps the building within the boundaries of the car park and field to the east.
Protecting the Park
We recognise that development within a public park must be carefully considered.
Green Spaces
The building extension expands the footprint to the grassed areas to the east and south of the building. This minimises the loss of grassed area caused by the changes.
Trees
The building changes should not impact any of the existing trees on the park.
Landscaping
Areas around the building will be landscaped in keeping with the wider park.
Any existing park equipment that is impacted by the extension will be either relocated within the park or replaced.
Biodiversity
If required a biodiversity report will be commissioned to assess the biodiversity impact of the changes and to identify the migations we need to put in place.
Noise
Reviewing operating hours for the building. Consideration of material used in construction for sound management.
Parking and traffic
We recognise that parking around the park can already be challenging, particularly when sports teams and other activities are taking place.
We have not yet completed a detailed assessment of parking and traffic requirements for the proposed extension. We don't want to make assumptions about the impact the project may have before that work has been properly considered.
Lighting
It is expected that additional lighting will be added to support external areas of the building. These will only be in operation during building opening times and will be positioned to minimise impact across the park.
Construction
We are still a long way from planning consturction of the building. When we get to construction we will look to minimise impact to the park and surrounding areas.
We also want to hear your ideas
Are there improvements to the park that you think could be delivered alongside the project?
What has the community told us?
We have already begun speaking to the community and have heard concerns about:
An increase in Anti-Social behaviour
Security features on the building should help reduce Anti-social behaviour in the area.
Increated presence on the park is a natural deterrant to ASB.
Building Security
The building will have suitable security features such as shutters, alarm and security cameras.
Increase in noise
Reviewing operating hours for the building. Consideration of material used in construction for sound management.
Parking
We recognise that parking around the park can already be challenging when sports are taking place.
We have not yet completed a detailed assessment of parking and traffic requirements for the proposed extension. We don't want to make assumptions about the impact the project may have before that work has been properly considered.
We want your view
Please tell us:
- What do you like?
- What concerns you?
- What could we change?
- What improvements would you like to see?
Just the discussion via the consultation page