Northampton Saints, together with lead contractor Warwick Burt Construction, started preparation works last week ahead of the build of the Club’s new indoor training facility.
The High Performance Centre will be based to the south of cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, on a section of one of the Club’s existing outdoor pitches, and will provide year-round training facilities for the playing squad.
The development was designed by pHp Architects and Warwick Burt began preparation works last week, aiming to finish the project midway through the 2022/23 season.
Saints Chairman John White welcomed Andy Burt, Tony Warwick and Paul Garner from Warwick Burt Construction to Franklin’s Gardens for a groundbreaking ceremony, alongside Andy Tresias and Kristy Coates from the Club’s operations department.
“We’re delighted to see this project finally come to life after a huge amount of planning and effort over a long time from many different stakeholders across the Club,” he said.
“The creation of the High Performance Centre is incredibly important for Northampton Saints; we are already very proud of cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, but if we want to realise our ambition of being successful at the very top of our sport and attract the best players in the world, we must continue to invest in our facilities.
“So, there is a lot of excitement around the Club to see preparation works begin, and we’re thrilled to be working alongside a local business in Warwick Burt – who count a number of Saints supporters amongst their staff!”
John White, Chairman
The High Performance Centre will house a half-sized artificial playing surface and sit on the western side of Saints’ current main training pitch.
The new facility will be complemented by another top-quality outdoor surface which will replicate the Franklin’s Gardens stadium pitch, with upgrade work well underway on Saints’ other training field to the south-west of the site.
The Club have also committed to sustainable design principles for the High Performance Centre – with the building including a passive ventilation system rather than heating, upgraded glazing and thermal insulation, energy efficient lighting, and high-quality cladding which is both durable and recyclable.
Andy Burt, co-director of Warwick Burt Construction, added: “We are honoured and excited to be appointed as main contractor to build this prestigious project for Northampton Saints, and look forward to handing over the finished facility at the end of this year.”
