After being closed for two years in order to undergo a £27 million refurbishment, the National Cycling Centre (NCC) has now reopened. Manchester City Council hopes the renovated hub will help the area become the first European capital of cycling in 2024.
The National Cycling Centre now boasts more modern, efficient, and sustainable features which will support local pathways to participation at all levels from community to elite cycling programmes. The newly refurbished centre now includes new and upgraded changing facilities, a new track barrier and timing system, upgraded offices, new café facilities, roof upgrades, refurbished lift, increased spectator seating capacity as well as the UK’s first all-electric velodrome.
The move is part of the Council’s programme to cut carbon emissions from its buildings, contributing towards the wider drive for Manchester to become zero carbon by 2038 or earlier. There have been a number of green energy technologies implemented to reduce the centre’s overall carbon footprint such as the use of heat recovery systems, a new air source heat pump and solar panels, which is expected to save up to 517 tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
As the headquarters of British Cycling, the velodrome was the training base for champions including Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Laura Kenny, and contributed to Great Britain’s success in the Olympics and Tour de France in recent decades. The current programme at the National Cycling Centre caters for every ability level from toddler to elite with over 50+ coached sessions across the BMX and Velodrome Track each week.
The facility will additionally return as the home of local clubs, who host training and competition programs from the site. The centre offers a wide-ranging, accessible velodrome, BMX and MTB, in addition to a multi-sport programme which are played throughout the week on the centre court within the Velodrome track. The sports available to play range from badminton, futsal, netball, korfball and many more.
Councillor John Hacking, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure, said: “The National Cycling Centre has been an unmistakable part of the city’s sporting skyline since Manchester hosted the successful Commonwealth Games in 2002 and, it is great to welcome back the jewel in the city’s crown of world-class sporting facilities.
“The Velodrome is not only a space where elite athletes train, but also a world-class facility that is open to residents and local clubs. We want our communities to benefit from having state-of-the-art facilities on their doorstep and I’m delighted that the Velodrome and the National Cycling Centre are open again so everyone can get cycling.
“In recent months, the Council has been investing in its sporting facilities such as the National Cycling Centre and Manchester Aquatics Centre. We hope that the revamped facilities will encourage our residents to embrace active lifestyles that can benefit both their physical and mental wellbeing.”