New Velodrome plans given green light

CITY OF York Council has confirmed that it has officially sanctioned plans for the construction of a new velodrome at York Sport Village. York City Council approved the plans last Friday, with the new cycling track scheduled for competion by the end of the calendar year.

The outdoor Olympic-standard velodrome, the first of its kind in Yorkshire, will be built alongside the existing road-cycling circuit adjacent to the York’s Hes East campus. It will cost a reported £1 million, with financial backing from British Cycling and Sports England.

The developments are a huge boost to cycling in York, particularly in a year where the city will host the start of Stage 2 of the Tour de France on 2nd July. The university’s Registar & Secretary David Duncan told Vision: “We are extremely pleased that the velodrome project has the approval of City of York Council. With the support of British Cycling, we are committed to building on the success of our floodlit road cycling circuit.”

And York Sport President Cass Brown was also pleased to hear the news, telling Vision: “The plans for the new velodrome are very exciting. Having such an impressive structure as this come to York is testament to how far York has come in sporting terms in recent years. Hopefully the development will also attract some nationally recognised athletes to the University but additionally the development should go along way to boosting the participation of people cycling, in and out of the velodrome.”

The velodrome will be open for public use as well as by York students.