New multi-sport surface coming soon to Henwick Worthy Sports Ground, Thatcham

A playing field in Thatcham is set to undergo a transformation.

Henwick Worthy Sports Ground is being eyed for a new multi-sport surface to replace its existing hard-court space by West Berkshire Council.

The current tennis and netball court area will soon be upgraded with a ‘Gen 2’ artificial playing surface – recommended by the governing bodies for tennis, netball and hockey.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the redevelopment will retain the original three tennis courts and two netball courts while incorporating hockey training lines and goals.

West Berkshire Council’s executive member for culture, leisure, sport and countryside Nigel Foot (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill) said: “With this exciting investment, Henwick Worthy’s facilities will be improved for local sports, supporting more people to take part in sport and improve their health and wellbeing.

“It’s a thriving multi-sport site which is struggling to meet the demand of the growing sports in the area, and we’re delighted to be able to offer upgraded playing space for tennis, netball and hockey.”

He added the district council is currently undertaking a ‘master planning exercise’ of the site to maximise future sporting options for local residents.

Work on the project is expected to start soon and is due to be completed by early summer.

Once ready, the refurbished courts will be available for bookings via the Henwick Worthy booking site.

A previous planning application by Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club sought to refurbish and enlarge the existing tennis courts to provide an artificial half pitch and to build a full-sized artificial grass pitch to replace the existing grass pitch.

But Sport England objected to the proposal, lodged in 2021, on the grounds there was no business plan, no usage plan and no sport lighting details outlined in the proposal.

Following this objection, the hockey club amended its application to refurbish and extend the existing redundant tennis courts to provide a ‘Gen 2’ pitch for multi-sports, without the full-sized pitch from the original application.

However, the club then withdrew the revised plans pending a ‘strategic review’ of the site by WBC in 2022.