Sports and Cultural Strategy

Client:NAA and Amalcroft Developments

Brief:Development of the Strategic Case for Development of Epicentre and recommendations for facility mix, scale and overall funding package, with a focus on public and Lottery sources

What was undertaken?

EPICENTRE UK is a proposed major £100m new international polo club, equestrian, triathlon and events facility for the Liverpool City Region, together with a fine dining clubhouse, indoor arena, residential field studies centre, business park, retirement village and a boutique spa hotel.

Making the case for a major new equestrian facility in Merseyside required careful consideration, balancing commercial needs of the project with the strategic requirements of the various sporting governing bodies crucial to any funding bids.

We were responsible for a physical and market review of the proposed scheme, considering elite, competitive and participatory users and the physical ‘fit’ of the optimum mix; a consideration of the polo and events calendar to appraise the financial and economic case for development, together with consultation with relevant governing bodies of sport and major events organisers; research into best practice and similar schemes already delivered elsewhere in the UK Europe, South America to identify ‘winning traits’ and significant consultation with key governing bodies of sport.

The outcome

A compelling case for development, project mix and scale confirmed fit for purpose from a sporting, strategic and market perspective and supported by Sport England and all major governing bodies of sport.