Edinburgh to host Scottish National Performance Centre for Sport

The Scottish government has chosen Edinburgh as the city to host the new £30m National Performance Centre for Sport (NPCS).

To be located at the Riccarton Campus of Heriot Watt University, the NPCS will support the high performance needs for football, rugby and volleyball while offering additional dedicated support to athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, fencing, handball, hockey, netball, shinty and squash.

The centre is expected to be fully operational by 2016 with construction due to start later this year.

Edinburgh was chosen from a shortlist of three, with bids from Dundee City Council and a joint bid from Stirling Council and the University of Stirling losing out in the final stage.

Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the government had accepted an unanimous recommendation from the NPCS Steering Group.

“The Heriot Watt and City of Edinburgh Council team presented an inspiring vision,” she said.

“It clearly demonstrated a positive commitment to developing high performance and a strong focus on partnership. I am confident they will deliver an iconic project, in a great setting, that takes Scottish sport onto a new level.

“The National Performance Centre for Sport will be the jewel in the crown for Scottish sport and help turn dreams into reality.”

The NPCS will be backed by £25 million from the Scottish Government and £2.5 million from each of Heriot-Watt University and the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Centre will offer an indoor full sized 3G football pitch with seating for 500, a full sized Hampden grass pitch with seating for 500, a synthetic 3G pitch, two goalkeeper training areas with floodlights, two grass rugby pitches, five grass football pitches and three outdoor tennis courts.

Indoor facilities include a nine court sports hall, a 100 station fitness suite, hydrotherapy, strength and conditioning and treatment areas, office accommodation for governing bodies and also incorporate the existing facilities at the University’s Centre for Sport and Exercise.