Frequently asked questions

The existing changing facilities at the Barry Sports Centre at Colcot are in urgent need of replacement as they have fallen into disrepair and do not meet the needs of all users. The former artificial turf pitch (ATP) at the Colcot is also surplus to requirement with recent developments and improvements at nearby Barry secondary schools. Given that the existing old sports centre changing rooms at the Colcot primarily cater for the pitches on the Buttrills fields, some distance away, an opportunity exists to consider improvements to changing facilities at the Buttrills site as well as the potential to masterplan that part of the Colcot site currently used for car parking, the changing rooms and ATP. The Council has identified an opportunity for funding to invest in these facilities, increasing physical activity opportunities, particularly for women and girls. Without this funding opportunity the Council would not be in a position to upgrade the sports centre within existing budgets.

• Buttrills Pavilion - Proposed Site Plan (553 KB) (pdf)
• Buttrills Pavilion - Proposed Layout (914 KB) (pdf)

At Buttrills, a new sports pavilion will be constructed adjacent to the existing community centre, with dedicated boxing hall, changing facilities and space for the community. This space will have increased parking provision, including electric vehicle charging. 

The existing, dated Colcot Sports Centre building, which currently houses the changing rooms, the artificial turf pitch (ATP) and car park is to be replaced with much needed Council housing, a new play area, an area for bike riding, known as a cycle pump track.  The larger sports hall, 3G football pitches and green open spaces at this site would be retained.

Under proposals, new changing rooms (for a minimum of 8 plus officials changing areas) will be built adjacent to the existing Buttrills sports pitches. These changing rooms, housed within a new pavilion, would be designed to Football Association of Wales standards and be fully compliant with the requirements for women and girl’s football, the fastest growing sports activity in the Vale.

The new changing rooms would also mean that users would no longer have to walk across Colcot Road to access the pitches at the Buttrills, which has been raised as a safety concern.  A new car park will also be provided with the current car park extended and Electric Vehicle charging points installed.

With the installation of new and improved changing and recreational facilities at the nearby Buttrills site, the dated Colcot Sports Centre building, which currently houses the changing rooms, will become redundant.

 It is proposed that the redundant part of the old Colcot site will be used to deliver 52 new homes, with a minimum of 40% affordable housing, helping meet the demand for housing in Barry.

The site will also include new community facilities including a playground.

The larger hall at the Colcot site and the small Artificial Turf Pitches would continue to be operated as part of the Leisure management contract between the Council and Legacy/Parkwood Leisure.

Following the success of the new Knap Skate, the proposals also include the installation of an outdoor cycle track, known as a pump track (funding from Sports Wales is likely to be available for this type of facility).  The pump track would be free to use and provides an opportunity for physical activity for different age groups.

A new car park would also be provided at the Colcot site to serve the remaining sports hall and other facilities.

The Buttrills playing fields will be able to continue to operate whilst the new facilities are built.

The existing facilities at the Colcot site would only be demolished once the new changing room block at the Buttrills is operational.

There are additional sports facilities open to the community that the Council has recently invested in at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg (3G pitch), Whitmore High School (3G pitch) and Pencoedtre High School (3G pitch).

We have applied for a grant of £500,000 from Cymru Football Foundation.

Additional funding would be required to match this grant and would come from other sources, including the proposed housing development on the site of the existing Sports Centre building and the redundant Artificial Turf Pitch (no part of the Colcot Buttrills site that has been used for organised sport in the past 5 years will be used for housing).

It is hoped that the new pavilion and changing rooms at the Buttrills site would be complete by September/October 2025, with works at the Colcot to follow completion of the Buttrills Pavilion. All of these proposals are subject to funding approval and planning permission.

This building has been a concern for some time. The building is in extremely poor condition and is presently operating with a portable plant room. The building is beyond its expected life span, does not meet customer expectations, is of poor design and, therefore, it is not possible to bring the facilities up to any reasonable standards. The building does not meet any of the present Football Association of Wales (FAW) requirements. In addition, the existing building cannot meet the needs of women and girls’ football that is currently recognised as the fastest growing physical activity in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Council are aware that the current Sports Centre cannot cope with the amount of traffic at peak usage times. By splitting the service between the two sites it is expected that this situation will improve. This aspect will also be considered when formal planning permission is applied for.

This will be considered as part of the planning application process.

At least 40%. But all proposals, including housing, will be subject to the availability of funding and planning permission.

Discussions will also be held with the Vale of Glamorgan Football League about the management of the new changing rooms as there could be the opportunity for savings, similar to other assets transfers.

The Colcot sports centre will remain open while works at the Buttrills take place.

The Cylch Meithrin that currently occupies the sports hall during term time has been given notice that if these proposals go ahead, their occupation of the site will come to an end in October 2025. Officers are in discussions and are supporting the Cylch Meithrin to find an alternative site.

Residents are invited to attend a drop in event at Colcot Sport Centre, Colcot Road, CF62 8UJ, on 18 April 2024, 4 – 7pm. The event will be an opportunity to look at the plans for the new site and find out more about the proposals.

Officers from the Council’s Neighbourhood Services, Sports Development and Housing teams  will be there to answer your questions and there will be an opportunity to leave comments or feedback on the proposals.

Those unable to attend the drop in can also ask the team questions online.

Further along in the project there will also be opportunities for residents to comment during the planning application process.

Parking provision at Buttrills site will be increased, as identified on plans. Parking provision will also be needed at the Colcot site to service the sports pitches and sports hall that would remain.

This will be addressed at the planning permission stage, but planning requirements are robust in terms of sustainable drainage systems.