Wakefield Trinity set to move to ‘world class’ training centre at city’s social club grounds
Proposals have been put forward for council-owned sports pitches to become a new “world class” training centre for Wakefield Trinity.
The city’s professional rugby league club looks set to move to the West Yorkshire Sports and Social Club in Sandal, subject to a legal agreement being finalised.
A range of amateur sports clubs are already based at the site, which has facilities including football pitches, tennis courts and bowling greens.
Its future has been uncertain for decades following previous attempts to build houses on land that forms part of its facilities.
The local authority owns the site but it has been leased to a group of trustees who have run it as a social club since the 1990s.
A joint statement issued by Wakefield Council and the Super League club said the site would also continue to operate as a community sports facility.
The proposal was “welcomed by local residents at a recent public meeting”, the council said.
According to the statement, the council and trustees have been exploring options to protect the club for community sports.
Discussion are ongoing with Trinity to agree terms to take on a new lease for the site.
Trinity would then have to secure planning permission before the move could go-ahead.
Council leader Denise Jeffery said: “As owners of the land, we know how much this site means to the local community and we gave our assurance that it would be protected.
“Finding the right solution has taken longer than any of us wanted.
“There is still a significant amount of work to do to get this over the line but the positive response from local residents shows that what we’re putting forward is right for the community.
“The proposal from Wakefield Trinity is a fantastic opportunity to breathe new life into the site and aligns to Trinity’s ambition to maintain its status as a top tier Super League club, which is great news for its supporters and our city.
“It also secures the site’s future for our residents, ensuring it remains a community and sporting facility in years to come.”
Wakefield Trinity owner Matt Ellis, said: “Having a world class training centre for Wakefield Trinity is part of the strategic vision for this great club and is critical to the club’s growth both on and off the pitch.
“This new facility will benefit all our teams covering men’s, women’s, youth and inclusion teams.
“Through our Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation, it will enable us to deliver rugby league and many other sports into the community, whilst also providing new and improved sporting facilities for community use.”
“This is an extremely exciting time for Wakefield Trinity, our loyal fans, and the district.
“Whilst there is a long way to go, it’s great news for all concerned that we are now at this point in the process.
“We welcome the support of the council and residents in progressing to the next stages.”
Plans to use the land for housing were finally scrapped two years ago.
In 2021, Persimmon Homes updated proposals to build 180 homes after planning permission granted in 2017 expired.
It sparked an outcry from residents who wanted it to be kept for community use.
The local authority then promised to “review” the scheme and said it would sell a different parcel of land elsewhere in the district to the house builder.
The original deal to sell the site to Persimmon was struck in 1998 and housing plans were first put forward in 2013.