Work on a new multi-million pound sports centre, set to take Hartpury students to the next level of sporting success, began today.

It’s the biggest investment in Hartpury’s recent history. The work will more than double in size the college and university centre’s current sports facility. The new development, managed by F3GROUP, will cost £7.6m and give students and teaching staff access to improved facilities, including a new sports hall.

Students studying on sports-related degrees and college courses will benefit from access to new physiotherapy treatment rooms and therapy suites. The building will also boast a human performance laboratory and a biomechanics area, as well as new changing rooms.

Hartpury Principal, Russell Marchant, said: “This project is a huge investment for us but it’s an extremely important one as well. It’s vital that we provide the best possible learning environment for our students and researchers, a big part of that is giving them access to top-level facilities. This new development will do exactly that. “At Hartpury we also have a strong tradition of sporting success. This expansion of our current sports facilities will only help to cement our position as one of the country’s most successful sport and educational institutions. It’s the largest investment made at Hartpury in recent years and we can’t wait to open the doors to students for the start of the 2018 academic year.”

Former Hartpury student and current Gloucester Rugby player Ross Moriarty, Hartpury students and Principal Russell Marchant as well as F3GROUP’s Managing Director, Keith Taylor marked the start of the work at a breaking ground ceremony. The work is expected to be completed in September 2018 ready for the 2018-19 academic year.

Gavin Gleave, F3GROUP’s CEO said: “This ground-breaking event marks the start of work on this instrumental facility, and I’m glad to be part of a project that will make such a huge difference to the student experience at Hartpury College and University Centre; and if we can provide opportunities for local suppliers, then all the better.

I’m lucky enough to have witnessed some of Hartpury’s students transition into professional sport through my links with Gloucester Rugby Club and can testament what a real difference the facility makes.”

The new sports academy building will offer a training platform for Hartpury’s academy athletes to help them achieve at the highest level. It will also provide all students and members of staff with the opportunity to be active. Local schools and clubs will also benefit from the chance to train in a top sporting environment.

The development will also be a boost to the local economy with all suppliers being selected from the surrounding area.