A SPORTS body has lifted its objections to a scheme which will see a York athletics track replaced and upgraded.

Sport England said earlier this year that it could not support plans for improving athletics facilities at the University of York’s Heslington West campus, which will be a new home for City of York Athletic Club after original proposals for a new track at York Sport Village were dropped, because of concerns that a hockey pitch at the site would be lost and teams would be left homeless.

However, the organisation said it had now received confirmation that the artificial pitch in the centre of the track will be replaced and can be used by hockey clubs.

As a result of this, it has withdrawn its objection, previously reported at the start of the month, as long as the new surface is ready before any other development starts.

Sport England said it was also satisfied that the new track would be only the first phase of the scheme, as City of York Council and the university had brought in an architect to draw up plans for a 500-seat covered stand and a clubhouse next to the track.

The council has said the decision was made to upgrade existing facilities as it would save money and they would be ready sooner, as well as being of better quality.

To find out more about the university’s plans, see: york.ac.uk/campus-investment/projects