Carrick Construction on track to finish Worcester International Hockey Centre by Spring

In spring 2020 Carrick Sports Construction successfully secured the design and build contract for Royal Grammar School Worcester's new hockey centre, a joint venture with Worcester Hockey Club.

An artist's impression of the proposed Worcester Hockey Centre

STRI had previously been engaged to produce the feasibility study and pitch design documents in the previous 12 months which allowed an autumn start for, principal contractors, Carrick Sports to mobilise on site to commence with the build and installation of the two FIH Global Hockey pitches and natural grass plateaux. Associated works within Carrick Sports scope include, access promenade, car parking and roadway tie-in.

Projects such as Worcester International Hockey Centre require careful planning in a wide range of disciplines, with ecological considerations being at the core of the scheme.

Toby Grace, Carrick Sports Business and Development manager, explained that whilst this is one of the bigger projects undertaken in 2020, his construction team have not faced any issues so far, despite indifferent weather and the challenges that everyone has faced with COVID-19. "There's no doubt that this is a big project," he said "I don't want to jinx things, but it's nothing we can't handle. In terms of our skills and the constraints of what we can do, this is comfortably within our ability to deliver in-house."

Carrick have worked closely with project management consultancy, Raise Partnership Ltd who are thrilled with the work that has been carried out. Managing director, Richard Savory said: "We pride ourselves that we always deliver our transformational projects on time and on budget, and Worcester International Hockey Centre is no exception. Carrick are easy to work with and have met every milestone from within their agreed cost envelope. The quality of the installation is evident for all to see."

At the core of all projects designed by STRI is sustainability and the drive to preserve surrounding natural environments, and the grounds at Worcester International Hockey Centre embody this principle. The floodlights have been designed to use the latest energy efficient LED technology to reduce the amount of light spillage and an ecologist was present on site to oversee key stages of the project to ensure wildlife and associated habitats were safely protected.

The new pitches, alongside the state-of-the-art clubhouse, will have a huge impact on the club who, despite being one of the oldest hockey clubs in the country, have never had a site they can truly call home.

According to the club's Vice Chair, Andrew Waters, the development is a dream come true. He said: "After many years of hard work and planning to find ourselves a permanent home, the realisation is that the Hockey Centre will bring the opportunity for the hockey playing people of Worcester, and the wider community, of playing on the highest standard of pitches, for now, and generations to come.

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