£60m 'green' multi-sport and educational project planned in Preston

Phoenix Park is the brainchild of Eddie Sloane who wants to develop Trax – the long-established education and sporting facility on the banks of the Ribble Estuary.

Eddie’s future “green” plans include Pioneer TEC, a purpose built, sustainable carbon-free education and sports and leisure facility to educate young people with regards to carbon reduction.

The second phase will bring a dry ski slope, water sports centre, wave pool and electric motorbike and car circuits.

There are also plans for a skateboard park and ancillary retail and refreshments

A planning application for the first phase has already been submitted to Preston City Council.

Eddie said: “The Government have already clicked onto the green industrial revolution – why shouldn’t it start in Preston?”

Preston City Council issued a 20 year lease to Trax in 2000 which was set up by Eddie and as a safe place to ride and drive off-road.

Since then it has evolved into a nationally recognised facility for top level motorcycle sport and competition and a provider for education and vocational training for some of the country’s most vulnerable and hard to reach young people.

The council has issued a 100 year lease with further use of additional land to accommodate the Phoenix Park development plan. Now Eddie is aiming to make the site totally “green”.

Phoenix Park will be powered by on site energy production from wind and solar power - with free entry for people who take part in a recycling scheme.

The £10m first phase of the re-development program has been announced by Trax and Pioneer TEC, who have submitted a planning application to build an Education and Sports centre with student accommodation.

The £50m second phase will follow on after that. It is hoped that work will begin this year.

Eddie said: “If permission is granted we would hope to start immediately, with the first phase opening in 2022.

“We already have the investment for phase one - the second phase will take a little bit longer.

”We wanted to get the idea out there and see what people thought.

“Overall, it would create hundreds of jobs.”

Trax hope its state-of-the-art Pioneer TEC facility will offer the additional space and components to enable the further evolution of the site into a virtually zero carbon leisure facility.

The buildings will be zoned for energy efficiency and the safety of students, staff and the members of the public who will utilise its facilities.

Phoenix Park will be operated as a Community Interest Company

The plans will be discussed by the city council’s planning committee in due course.