Finishing line in sight as Meadowbank plans are unveiled

Meadowbank Stadium is closing for a Â£40m refurbishment

The closure of the flagship venue, which was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, will mark the start of major  redevelopment plans to create a new state-of-the-art sports centre on the same site.

Architect designs released today reveal the planned look and feel for the new Meadowbank, which is due to be operational by Easter 2020.

The news follows the closure of the Meadowbank Velodrome earlier this month, and will mean the centre being decommissioned before on-site inspections take place this winter and works begin in 2018.

Users and members of the public will have the chance to attend a final fireworks concert, which will take place on  November 5.

Councillor Ian Campbell, vice convener of culture and communities said: “This is the end of an era for Meadowbank and the start of a major redevelopment to support physical activity, health and wellbeing in Edinburgh for generations to come.

“The facility will support both the local community and clubs and it is important we get the design right. That is why the facility mix has been revisited, and now incorporates improved indoor athletics facilities in line with feedback from individual users and sports clubs within the budget we have available.

“The old Meadowbank has been at the heart of sport in Edinburgh for almost half a century.

“We now need this new-look venue to greatly support physical activity in Edinburgh for at least the next 50 years to come, while catering for the city’s ever demanding housing needs. I’m looking forward to seeing the proposals submitted as a planning application soon.”

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