STOKE MANDEVILLE STADIUM Client: British Wheelchair Sports Foundation Lottery Sports Fund Grant: c£5m Value: c£10M Completed: March 2003
BWSF's ambitious redevelopment of the Guttmann Sport and Leisure Centre was officially opened by the Prince of Wales on 8 April 2003. The belief that people with disabilities should be able to take part in sport alongside the able bodied formed the basic design philosophy for the whole scheme, which has succeeded in combining the sporting needs of the local community with those of world class athletes with disabilities. Facilities include: An impressive new front extension to the Guttmann Sports and Leisure Centre, incorporating an upgraded Entrance and new Reception facilities, together with Cafe, Catering and a 70-station Fitness Centre. A refurbished and highly adaptable Sports Hall, increased to 12 courts, enabling games of wheelchair rugby or basketball to be played side by side at International level. A new, level deck, 25m Swimming Pool with an expanded poolside and changing facilities fully specified and equipped for wheelchair use by its regular residential groups and by Disability Sports Groups from across the UK. A new, 400m x 8-lane international standard outdoor Athletics Track, with field event and changing facilities, all specified and equipped for wheelchair users and the home of the Aylesbury Harriers Athletics Club. A 6-lane indoor Bowls Centre, refurbished to national standards. A unique, 100 bed 'Olympic Lodge' accommodation centre, with full wheelchair access and designed to a high standard that will enable a wide range of commercial uses. Once again, the case for refurbishment, in combination with new build redevelopment, has created a stunning new identity for the Centre and provided tremendous value for money. It is clear that the quality of the environment and the technical facilities it contains will help to ensure that the Stoke Mandeville Stadium should rapidly regain its international status for Disabled Sport as it is now regarded as one of the best in the world. New standards have been set at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium as an example for others to follow

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