A report recommending the development of a new sports centre is set to be discussed next week by the City of Edinburgh council.

The estimated total project cost of a new Meadowbank Sports Centre is £41.1 million.

The report recommends developing a detailed design which would allow the project to be tendered, providing greater clarity on the funding gap required from the capital investment programme, estimated at £5.98m.

Features of the new facility would include:

• An outdoor athletics track with seating for 500.

• An indoor 60m six lane athletics track with jumps area.

• An outdoor throws area.

• A 3G synthetic sports pitch or grass pitch in the centre of the outdoor athletics track for football, rugby and other pitch sports.

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• An additional outdoor 3G synthetic sports pitch.

• An eight badminton court sports hall with 500 permanent seats plus bleachers (the same size as the current Meadowbank Hall 1).

• A four badminton court sports hall with 500 permanent seats (the same size as the current Meadowbank Hall 2).

• A gymnastics hall, gym, studios, changing facilities, café, meeting rooms.

Council Leader Andrew Burns said: "This report sets out quite clearly the funding required to turn one of our flagship facilities, which everyone agrees is at the end of its useful life, into a sports venue fit for the 21st century.

"While it is a significant investment for the Council, creating a detailed design would give us greater clarity about how much money we need to invest. Not only would we see a new Meadowbank but more homes would be built to meet the city’s housing needs.

"Obviously there is still a long way to go with a project of this scale if the funding is agreed but I want to assure everyone that the Council is determined to realise our dream of redeveloping Meadowbank."

Options for funding and design concepts have been developed with input from relevant governing bodies of sport and sportscotland.

If the funding shortfall is addressed, demolition could begin in late autumn 2017 with a new Meadowbank opening in summer 2019.

(LM)