Multi sport Multi use

Multi-sport facilities are becoming increasingly popular. SportsNation looks at some recently completed projects

Fordingbridge delivers two MUGA projects at schools

Canopy solutions specialist and SAPCA member, Fordingbridge, has completed two recent multi-sports facility projects at schools – at St Hugh’s School in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire and Essex Primary School in Newham, London.

At St Hugh’s, Lincolnshire’s weather has made it difficult for the school to offer year-round sports, so the school needed a solution that would keep their students (ages 11-19) active through every season. The school commissioned a striking 20m x 31m taper trellis canopy, designed, engineered and installed by Fordingbridge. The result is an impressive all-weather sports zone that transforms St Hugh’s sports offering.

Similarly, Essex Primary School wanted to ensure its pupils could benefit from playing sports whatever the weather. Working closely with the school’s leadership team, Fordingbridge designed, engineered and installed a bright, future-proof MUGA canopy that transforms how the school’s pupils stay active year-round. The result is a striking 16m x 30m steel structure – robust, low-maintenance and backed by a 25-year guarantee – ensuring generations of pupils can benefit from the game-changing impact of the all-weather sports environment.

Blakedown enhances sports provision at Sutton primary school

Blakedown Sport & Play, working in partnership with Vertis Buildings, delivered a new multi-use games area (MUGA) for Sutton VA Primary School, transforming an underused section of the grounds into a durable, all-weather sports facility.

The project included essential site preparation, installation of a resilient polymeric surface, and the addition of secure perimeter fencing, clear line markings and integrated equipment storage to ensure the space is safe, practical and suitable for year-round use.

During early groundworks, the project gained unexpected attention when archaeologists uncovered a well-preserved 15th–16th century pottery kiln beneath the site. The discovery attracted significant coverage from local news outlets and prompted strong community interest, with pupils and residents gaining valuable insight into the area’s historic craft industry. The excavation revealed over 300kg of pottery fragments, offering rare evidence of local production and enriching the school’s connection to its past. Although carefully documented and preserved, the archaeological work was managed with minimal disruption to the construction programme.

The completed MUGA now provides Sutton VA Primary School with a versatile, long-lasting facility that enhances curriculum PE, extra-curricular sport and daily physical activity. Enriched by the heritage discovery beneath it, the project represents both a modern investment in pupil wellbeing and a renewed connection to the area’s historical landscape.

Play Innovation and Playrite provide two community sports areas in Westminster

Westminster City Council appointed SAPCA member, Play Innovation, to refurbish two under-used and ageing sports areas.

The first one to be completed was the Kennet House multi-use games area (MUGA), located just off Church Street, which underwent a major revamp. Delivered through the Active Westminster Programme, Play Innovation worked with MSC Consultants on the site, with Playrite’s Matchplay 2 surface playing a key role in delivering a durable, low maintenance and high-performance facility.

These projects stand out because they demonstrate that excellence is not defined by scale - it is defined by innovation, quality and impact

The second site, Johnsons Place, demanded innovation under strict budget constraints. Play Innovation’s engineering approach featured a new layer of open-graded sports tarmac, drainage drilling and new Matchplay 2 surfacing for multi-sport. There are also Play Innovation’s trademark Corner Skills panels – one with a netball hoop and another featuring Street Snooker X. In addition, a separate outdoor fitness area has been created with equipment supplied by The Great Outdoor Gym Company.

Shipston High School: from tired tarmac to a modern multi-sport hub

Shipston High School’s outdoor courts had reached the end of their life. The old tarmac was cracked and worn, the perimeter edging was failing and the lighting and fencing no longer matched the standard of sport the school wanted to deliver.

SAPCA member, Synthetic Turf Management (STM), was appointed to transform the area into a modern, multi-sport facility – combining new synthetic turf surfacing, LED floodlighting, upgraded fencing and freshly painted courts with clear, multi-sport markings.

STM replaced the tired tarmac playing surface with a high- performance synthetic turf system designed for intensive school use. Key elements included a new 25mm open-textured porous macadam – providing a free-draining, stable base for the new surface – and shock pad installation to improve player comfort and safety. The choice of new playing surface is TigerTurf Evo Pro, a durable, sand-dressed synthetic turf with long warranties, ideal for netball, hockey, tennis and general exercise. The perimeter detailing includes nap lock carpet gripper edging and kickboards to protect the surface and create a clean, professional finish.

Slip-resistant MUGA surfaces

For operators and contractors delivering safe, durable and visually striking MUGAs, Britannia Paints provides specialist surface coatings trusted across the UK sports and play sector. Its Decatone SR75 system is a two- part acrylic coating engineered specifically for MUGAs, netball courts, tennis courts and community play spaces. Designed for year-round use, Decatone SR75 achieves a slip resistance value (SRV) of 75+ on suitable surfaces – even in wet conditions – while delivering a long-lasting, colour-rich finish that resists wear, algae and fungal growth.

Beyond MUGAs, the Britannia Paints portfolio – with more than 40 years of experience – includes dedicated tennis and netball coatings, playground paint and off-road marking systems, supporting clear, durable demarcation across cycleways, sports arenas and recreational environments.

SAPCA members partner to complete Playzone project in Swindon

A team of SAPCA members partnered up to provide the Buckhurst Crescent Playzone in Swindon. Plans to build the Buckhurst Field multi-use games area (MUGA) were first announced in June 2024 by South Swindon Parish Council and given the green light in August 2024.

The Football Foundation PlayZones Programme is a nationwide initiative dedicated to creating safe, accessible, and inclusive sports spaces. In Swindon, the Buckhurst Crescent Playzone MUGA was developed to provide opportunities for football, basketball, netball and other recreational activities.

SAPCA members Chiltern Sports, McArdle Sport Tec and JHP Electrical Services, working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council, delivered the project to the highest standards of safety, performance and compliance.

The fact that the delivery team comprised SAPCA-accredited companies provided reassurance to stakeholders that the Playzone would be completed to industry best practice, with high-quality workmanship and compliance guaranteed.

The new facility, opened ahead of schedule, forms part of the £600,000 Buckhurst Field improvement project – the largest-ever investment by South Swindon Parish Council into recreation. Constructed in just six weeks instead of the expected twelve, the Playzone is now operated by South Swindon Parish Council, with support from the Football Foundation and Swindon Borough Council. The wider scheme also included restored football pitches, new changing rooms, a rebuilt skatepark, a cycleway, a tarmacked car park, and upgraded play facilities.