Judo centre plans agreed in Walsall

Plans to extend a Walsall-based judo centre to boost athletes’ hopes in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games have been given the go ahead.

University of Wolverhampton has been granted permission to build a single story block at the rear of the British Judo facility on the Gorway Road campus.

The extension will feature physiotherapy and medical consultation areas as well as additional changing and shower facilities.

When the plans were first unveiled earlier this year, they were strongly supported by both the British Judo Association and the English Institute of Sport for the benefits the development could bring for future tournaments.

The University’s planning agent Stefan Stojsavljevic said: “The purpose of the scheme is to increase the British Judo Association’s changing, shower, physiotherapy and medical facilities which will make a significant difference both in the lead up to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond.

“The proposed extension would not lead to an intensification of use in terms of users, it would just provide additional space for necessary facilities to be used by the current occupiers only as the British Judo Association will continue to operate the site as it historically has done.”

Andrew Scoular, chief executive of British Judo Association said: “All of us are extremely excited and supportive of the potential extension to the Olympic Judo Centre at the Centre of Excellence on the Walsall Campus.

“This extension would make a significant impact both in the lead up to the 2021, the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond.”

And Nigel Walker, national director at the English Institute of Sport, added: “As improved medical and physiotherapy facilities are a key part of this new extension, I am wholly supportive of this project.

“These new facilities will serve to support the judo fighters on the journey towards Tokyo, Paris and beyond, as well as the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.”