Dorset Council and Active Dorset are set to deliver a further £2 million redevelopment of Redlands Leisure and Community Park in Weymouth, as they continue to transform the site into a hub for sport, recreation, and community engagement.
The ambitious project, supported by a £1.36 million Football Foundation grant, awaits final approval from Dorset Council’s Cabinet on 29 April 2025.
The latest plans include two full-size 3rd generation LED floodlit artificial football pitches, one replacing an existing pitch no longer fit for use, as well as an artificial cricket wicket. Additional improvements will feature a 2.5m-wide traffic-free tarmac path for walking, cycling, jogging, and scooting, a 120-space overflow car park with enhanced accessibility, and biodiversity enhancements such as planting 49 trees and wildflowers.
This investment aims to tackle health inequalities in Weymouth by creating high-quality spaces that encourage the community to be active and connected.
The proposed facilities will increase opportunities for local sports clubs and schools, with a particular focus on encouraging women’s and girls’ participation in sport. Wey Valley School will also benefit, with access to the new pitches via the dedicated footpath.
Governance arrangements for the project are built around a partnership model. Active Dorset, a local charity focused on promoting active lifestyles, holds a 30-year lease for the site, granted by Dorset Council in November 2022. Under the terms of this arrangement, Active Dorset has taken on day-to-day site management, enabling the charity to secure external funding for facility improvements. Dorset Council provides strategic oversight and financial support as required, ensuring the project aligns with broader community and health objectives.
Martin Kimberley of Active Dorset commented, “It is our aim to encourage members from all corners of the local community to become more active in their everyday lives. We hope that the changes we have made at Redlands in recent times, together with these significant additional improvements, will go some way to meeting those objectives.
“The new football and cricket pitches will be of the highest quality, and we are hopeful of attracting users from both adult and youth teams as well as some of the more inactive members of the Redlands community.
“We hope that the band of volunteers who make activities possible on a day-to-day basis find the new facilities supportive of them and their efforts to attract new and existing users to Redlands Leisure and Community Park.”
Councillor Ryan Hope, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer, Culture, and Community Engagement, said, “This project highlights Dorset Council’s commitment to supporting our communities. Pending Cabinet approval, the new facilities at Redlands will provide first-rate opportunities for local residents to be active, address health inequalities in Weymouth, and ensure Redlands continues to serve as a valued community space for generations to come.”
Pending Cabinet approval, the redevelopment will proceed with funding secured, including a £689,123 contribution from Dorset Council. With planning permissions in place, this initiative represents a milestone in creating a welcoming and inclusive space for the local community.
