Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium 'could be replaced by summer 2019'

Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh could be replaced by summer 2019, with demolition starting next year, according to the council.

City leaders want to spend £700,000 on developing blueprints to confirm how much they will have to invest to plug a funding gap and begin tendering.

Councillors will meet on Thursday to discuss a report on the project.

The cost of the new centre has been estimated at £41.1m. The council has a £5.98m funding shortfall.

Flagship facilities

The new site will feature a 500-capacity outdoor athletics track, synthetic sports pitches, a gymnastics hall, studios, changing facilities, a cafe and meeting rooms.

Andrew Burns, Edinburgh city council leader, said: "This report sets out quite clearly the funding required to turn one of our flagship facilities, which everyone agrees is at the end of its useful life, into a sports venue fit for the 21st century.

"While it is a significant investment for the council, creating a detailed design would give us greater clarity about how much money we need to invest.

"Not only would we see a new Meadowbank but more homes would be built to meet the city's housing needs."

Richard Lewis, Edinburgh city council's culture and sport convener, said: "Transforming Meadowbank into a brand new sports complex would provide a modern, fully accessible high quality sports centre for sports clubs and local communities.

"The new venue will bring health and wellbeing benefits across the city by supporting even more people to become and stay active."

Facilities at new Meadowbank Sports Centre:

• An outdoor athletics track with seating for 500

• An indoor 60m six lane athletics track with jumps area

• An outdoor throwing area

• A 3G synthetic sports pitch or grass pitch in the centre of the outdoor athletics track for football, rugby and other pitch sports

• An additional outdoor 3G synthetic sports pitch

• An eight badminton court sports hall with 500 permanent seats plus bleachers (the same size as the current Meadowbank Hall 1)

• A four badminton court sports hall with 500 permanent seats (the same size as the current Meadowbank Hall 2)

• A gymnastics hall, gym, studios, changing facilities, cafe, meeting rooms.