Plans have been revealed to redevelop Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium.

With the current facility closing its doors on 03 December, architectural designs have been released showcasing a new Meadowbank Stadium set to be operational from 2020.

Features of the new sports centre will include;

• An outdoor athletics track with a 500 seat stand

• Two multi-sport games halls

• Three fitness studios

• A gym

• A gymnastics hall

• Two squash courts

• A combat studio for martial arts

• A boxing gym with ring

• A 60m 6 lane indoor athletics track and jumps space

• An outdoor throwing area

• Two FIFA standard 3G (all weather) pitches – one which will be in the centre of the athletics track

• Cafe and meeting rooms

The first multi-sport games hall will be equivalent in size to an eight-court badminton hall with permanent seating for 420 and additional bleacher seating for 725. The second hall is set to be the equivalent of a four-court badminton hall with permanent seating for 430.

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The new centre will be partly funded by residential and commercial development on parts of the existing site that are not required for the new sports complex. This will include development of affordable and low cost housing through the Council's 21st Century Homes Programme.

News of the new Stadium follows the closure of the Meadowbank Velodrome earlier this month, which will see the centre decommissioned before on-site inspections take place this winter and works begin in 2018.

Cllr Ian Campbell 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."

To view designs for the new Stadium, visit here.

(LM)