New all-weather pitch to boost sport in deprived area

Haringey Council has approved the commencement of a tendering process for a new all-weather artificial grass pitch (AGP) at the Selby Urban Village development. The decision, made by the Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Local Economy on July 20, 2026, aims to provide much-needed sports facilities in an area identified as having high socioeconomic deprivation.

The new 3G pitch will offer year-round access to multi-sports facilities, addressing a significant unmet demand in the east of the borough. The pitch is intended to accommodate a variety of sports, and a properly maintained artificial grass pitch can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week, a substantial increase compared to the six hours for a natural grass pitch. The Selby Urban Village development aims to provide both natural grass pitches for cricket and football alongside the 3G pitch to enable year-round sport and improve community health outcomes. The all-weather surface will allow more teams across different age groups to train, compete, and participate in activities, including youth engagement programmes, walking football, inclusive and disability provision, and training opportunities for referees and coaches.

This development is part of the wider Selby Urban Village project, which includes 202 new council homes, a community building, a changing pavilion, and enhanced park and sports facilities.

Funding for the AGP has been secured from the Football Foundation, with a key condition being that the pitch must be delivered by a contractor appointed through the foundation's AGP Framework. The estimated cost for the pitch's procurement and delivery was already included within the overall Selby Urban Village Phase One project budget, approved in February 2026.

The anticipated programme for procurement and delivery of the artificial grass pitch is as follows:

• July- September 2026: Tender period via AGP Contractor Framework
• September- October 2026: Tender evaluation and reporting
• November 2026: Award of contract for AGP works contractor
• December 2026: AGP contractor mobilisation
• January April 2027: AGP works undertaken
• June 2027: Early beneficial use of the artificial grass pitch

Several alternative options were considered and discounted. These included not tendering for the AGP works, which would have forfeited grant funding; delivering only natural grass pitches, which would have offered limited capacity compared to an all-weather pitch; and in-house delivery of the works, for which the council lacks the necessary expertise and capacity. Tendering via a different framework was also ruled out as it would not meet the Football Foundation's grant conditions.

The Selby Urban Village project is a partnership between the Council and The Selby Trust, a local charitable organisation. The scope of works for the AGP includes drainage, surfacing, marking, perimeter fencing, and floodlighting.

The project is expected to contribute to the Council's Corporate Delivery Plan by enhancing resident experience, supporting climate emergency responses through efficient floodlighting and sustainable drainage, providing homes, and supporting the local economy. Specifically, the pitch is described as a key part of the sustainable drainage strategy for the site, providing attenuation and controlled water discharge into the drainage infrastructure, and reducing the need for buried tanks. Additionally, The estimated regulated CO2 savings for the scheme masterplan (combined Phases 1 community and sports facilities & phase 2 housing) are 90% against a Part L 2021 compliant scheme. The proposed energy efficiency measures relating to the 3G artificial grass pitch include efficient flood lighting and power. ¹

Community access and affordability emerged as important issues during community engagement, and residents and community groups will continue to be consulted regarding the management system for community use of the 3G artificial grass pitch. However, specific booking or pricing structures are not yet detailed.