An ambitious new multi-sports facility in the heart of Swindon is moving closer by the day.

Senior council officer Rob Richards was reporting to members of Swindon Borough Council’s corporate and resources committee on the authority’s property holdings when Labour councillor Pam Adams asked him about progress on the Moredon Sports Hub.

The council has planning permission to construct a closed road cycle circuit, a full-size 3G football pitch, new grass football and cricket pitches, a learn-to-ride track and BMX pump circuit with a brand-new pavilion as well as moving the existing croquet green in a complex using some of Moredon recreation ground.

Mr Richards said progress is being made, with the end of the tender process, where contractors bid for the work, in sight.

He said: “We’re coming to the the end of it, either by the end of this calendar year or very early in 2023. The contract is pretty much night.”

Asked whether that would mean work would be able to start in the next year, Mr Richards was less bullish: “After the end of the tendering process there’s quite a lengthy sign-off process.

“But I’m confident this is now a proceed-able project.”

It’s been several years since the council published its plans for the new hub.

And it had to find extra money to fund the project in the face of soaring costs after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last month the Conservative cabinet reallocated £260,000, from funding from Mouldon Hill Country Park to the scheme. That will be put together with £40,000 from Central Swindon North Parish Council.

It’s the parish council which will run and operate the hub when it is completed

The borough council’s part of the funding of the hub is expected to come from the sale of part of the current open space in the area for housing.

The authority is already advertising the land on its website with the words: “Easily accessible to the highway network, the site has a development brief for a scheme of 60 homes, approved at planning committee; available on the data room. The site is situated adjacent to the forthcoming Moredon multi-sports hub and is located less than 1.5 miles from the centre of Swindon, and Swindon station.”

Sport England, British Cycling and the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation have all provided support and funding for the project.