Investing in the Future of Community Sport
Hook Road Arena has been designed as a phased community sports infrastructure project, allowing facilities to be delivered progressively as funding is secured. This approach enables the Borough to benefit from new sports facilities at the earliest opportunity whilst creating a realistic and sustainable pathway towards delivering one of Surrey’s premier community sports destinations.
The current feasibility estimate for delivering the complete Sports Park is:
The project has been independently costed using recognised Quantity Surveying methodologies and benchmarked against Sport England, Football Foundation and industry-standard construction costs.
£20,369,540
All costs exclude VAT and remain subject to detailed design, planning approval and procurement.
Why a Phased Delivery Model?
Delivering the Sports Park in phases provides a number of important benefits:
- Earlier delivery of community sports facilities.
- Reduced upfront capital requirements.
- Access to a broader range of national funding programmes.
- Greater flexibility to respond to future funding opportunities.
- Reduced financial risk.
- Long-term financial sustainability.
- The ability to unlock additional external investment as each phase progresses.
Each phase has been carefully structured to align with the objectives of major funding bodies, allowing the project to maximise grant opportunities whilst minimising reliance on any single funding source.
Unlocking External Investment
A long-term lease is the essential foundation for securing major external investment. Most national sports funding bodies require applicants to demonstrate long-term security of tenure before capital grants can be awarded.
By securing a long-term lease, Epsom & Ewell Sports Park CIC will become eligible to apply for a wide range of national funding programmes, enabling the project to leverage significant external investment into the Borough.
The proposed funding strategy has therefore been designed around securing a lease first, allowing each phase of the project to access the most appropriate funding opportunities as delivery progresses.
Phase 1 – Planning & Development
Estimated Investment
£470,000
Phase 1 prepares the project for construction by completing all professional work necessary to obtain planning permission and prepare the Sports Park for delivery.
Scope of Works
- Planning application
- Architectural design
- Masterplanning
- Quantity Surveying
- Topographical surveys
- Ground investigations
- Ecology surveys
- Drainage strategy
- Highways assessments
- Utility investigations
- Community consultation
- Legal agreements and lease preparation
Funding Opportunities
| Funding Source | Potential Funding | Application Stage | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport England Development Support | Up to £500,000 | Eligible following lease | Planning, surveys and professional fees |
| Surrey County Netball Association | Contribution | In principle support | Project development |
| Football Club Contribution | Contribution | In principle support | Project development |
| Epsom & Ewell Sports Park CIC | Contribution | Ongoing | Match funding and development costs |
Phase 2 – Initial Community Sports Park
Estimated Investment
£6,852,320
Phase 2 delivers the first operational Sports Park, providing immediate community benefit through high-quality football and netball facilities together with the infrastructure required to support long-term community use.
Phase 2 Includes
Football Facilities
- Main Stadium Grass Pitch
- Stadium Infrastructure
- Football Clubhouse
- Changing Facilities
Netball Facilities
- Six Outdoor Netball Courts
- Dedicated Netball Clubhouse
- Changing Facilities
- Equipment Storage
Infrastructure
- 178-space car park
- Coach parking
- Internal access roads
- Footpaths
- Drainage
- Utilities
- CCTV
- Site lighting
- Landscaping
- External works
Phase 2 Cost Breakdown
| Project Element | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| General Preliminaries | £515,000 |
| Site Preparation Works | £275,050 |
| Parking, Roads, Drainage & External Works | £2,353,020 |
| Main Stadium Grass Pitch | £1,429,000 |
| Stadium Works | £428,300 |
| Football Clubhouse | £697,450 |
| Outdoor Netball Courts | £590,000 |
| Netball Clubhouse | £564,500 |
Total Phase 2 Investment
£6,852,320
Phase 2 Funding Opportunities
| Funding Source | Potential Funding | Application Stage | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (Current Application) | £1,000,000 | Application Submitted | Site infrastructure, enabling works, parking and access |
| Football Foundation | Up to £2,000,000+ | Eligible following lease | Football pitches, clubhouse and associated infrastructure |
| Sport England Capital Fund | £500,000–£3,000,000+ | Eligible following lease | Community sports infrastructure |
| England Netball Facilities Funding | Up to £750,000 | Eligible following lease | Outdoor courts and netball facilities |
| National Lottery Community Fund | £20,000–£500,000 | Eligible following lease | Community participation and facilities |
| Club Contributions & Community Fundraising | Variable | Ongoing | Match funding and equipment |
Estimated External Funding Potential
- Strategic CIL Application – £1,000,000
- Football Foundation – Up to £2,000,000+
- Sport England Capital – Up to £3,000,000+
- England Netball Facilities – Up to £750,000
- National Lottery Community Fund – Up to £500,000
- Club Contributions & Fundraising – Variable
The combined funding opportunities available significantly exceed the estimated Phase 2 investment requirement, demonstrating a realistic and deliverable funding strategy.
Current Strategic CIL Application
Epsom & Ewell Sports Park CIC has submitted an application for £1 million of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding towards Phase 2 of the project.
The requested Strategic CIL investment is intended to fund the essential enabling infrastructure required to unlock the wider Sports Park development.
By providing the critical infrastructure at the heart of Phase 2, Strategic CIL funding will strengthen subsequent applications to national funding bodies, enabling the project to leverage many millions of pounds of additional external investment into Epsom & Ewell.
Phase 3 – Sports Park Expansion
Estimated Investment
£13,047,220
The final phase completes the long-term vision for Hook Road Arena, transforming the site into one of the region’s leading community sports destinations.
Phase 3 Includes
Football
- Community 3G Pitch
- Additional Grass Pitches
- Maintenance Facilities
Indoor Sports
- Indoor Covered Netball Arena
- Multi-Sport Hall
- Indoor Clubhouse
- Spectator Viewing Area
- Café
- Community Meeting Rooms
- Flexible Community Space
Sustainability
- Solar PV
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Smart Energy Management Systems
Phase 3 Cost Breakdown
| Project Element | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Community 3G Pitch | £890,000 |
| Grass Pitches | £359,000 |
| Site Maintenance Facilities | £1,645,000 |
| Indoor Covered Netball Arena & Multi-Sport Hall | £4,860,473 |
| Indoor Arena Clubhouse | £2,143,750 |
| Sustainability Measures | £585,000 |
| Fees, Contingency & Project Management | £2,563,997 |
Total Phase 3 Investment
£13,047,220
Phase 3 Funding Opportunities
| Funding Source | Potential Funding | Application Stage | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promotional Agreement | Up to £10,000,000 | Future funding mechanism | Major capital investment |
| Football Foundation | Up to £2,000,000+ | Eligible following lease | Football infrastructure |
| Sport England Capital Fund | £500,000–£3,000,000+ | Eligible following lease | Indoor sports facilities |
| England Netball Facilities Funding | Up to £750,000 | Eligible following lease | Indoor netball arena |
| Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme | Up to £5,000,000 | Eligible following lease | Community sports hub |
| National Lottery Community Fund | £20,000–£500,000 | Eligible following lease | Community facilities |
| Premier League Stadium Fund | Up to £500,000 | Eligible following lease | Stadium enhancements |
| Sustainability Grants | Up to £500,000 | Eligible following lease | Renewable energy and environmental improvements |
| Sponsorship & Naming Rights | Variable | Ongoing | Commercial investment |
| Operational Revenue Reinvestment | Long-term | Operational | Future lifecycle replacement and reinvestment |
Estimated External Funding Potential
- Promotional Agreement – Up to £10,000,000
- Football Foundation – Up to £2,000,000+
- Sport England Capital – Up to £3,000,000+
- Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme – Up to £5,000,000
- England Netball Facilities – Up to £750,000
- National Lottery Community Fund – Up to £500,000
- Premier League Stadium Fund – Up to £500,000
- Sustainability Grants – Up to £500,000
- Sponsorship & Naming Rights – Variable
The range of funding opportunities available substantially exceeds the estimated Phase 3 investment requirement, providing flexibility to assemble the most appropriate funding package as the project progresses.
Overall Project Investment
| Phase | Estimated Investment |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 – Planning & Development | £470,000 |
| Phase 2 – Initial Community Sports Park | £6,852,320 |
| Phase 3 – Sports Park Expansion | £13,047,220 |
Total Estimated Project Investment
£20,369,540
A Sustainable Funding Strategy
The Hook Road Arena Sports Park has been deliberately structured to maximise opportunities for external investment.
Rather than relying on a single funding source, the project combines local authority investment with national sports funding, governing body grants, charitable funding, commercial sponsorship and long-term capital investment to create a resilient and deliverable funding model.
The current application for £1 million of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy funding represents the catalyst for this wider investment strategy. By providing the essential infrastructure required for Phase 2, Strategic CIL funding will unlock eligibility for a wide range of national funding programmes and strengthen future applications to organisations such as Sport England, the Football Foundation, England Netball and the National Lottery Community Fund.
This collaborative funding model has the potential to leverage many millions of pounds of additional external investment into Epsom & Ewell, ensuring that local infrastructure funding delivers significantly greater long-term value for residents while creating a sustainable community sports destination for generations to come.