Barcelona FC’s board of directors has rejected the option of building a new stadium and instead has approved a £495m (US$821, €602.2m) redevelopment of its iconic Nou Camp stadium. The proposal would see the capacity of Europe’s biggest stadium increase from 98,000 to 105,000 with work starting in 2017 to be completed in early 2021. Also planned for the remodelled stadium, which originally opened in 1957, is a new roof,

Scunthorpe United Football Club (SUFC) has revealed plans for a new 12,000-capacity stadium in the town. To be located close to the club's current Glanford Park ground, the stadium is set to be developed as part of a mixed-use project which will also include a 120-room hotel, a multi-use indoor arena, community sports pitches and a new transport hub for the town. The initial designs and masterplan have been created

The Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre, used during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, will open to the public on 1 March. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) – which operates the park – said the relaunch of the centre will be a major landmark as it prepares for the full opening of the southern section of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, due to take place in early April. The opening day

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, has re-opened to the public after a 23-month transformation costing approximately $61m (£37m, €44.6m). Overlooking Lake Geneva, the Olympic Museum documents the complete history of the Games, spanning from ancient Athens to the present day. A major renovation of the original 1993 building, by Swiss architects Brauen & Wälchli, has virtually doubled the display areas, as well as creating new exhibition space totalling 3,000m²

Plans have been unveiled for a progressive SkyCycle network, designed to give cyclists a dedicated commuter route, as its developers seek to transform cycle transport in London. Designed by Norman Foster + Partners with Exterior Architecture and Space Syntax, the 135-mile network of routes is planned for construction above existing suburban railway lines. The plans come in the wake of a number of deaths of cyclists experienced on the capital’s

Sheffield has edged closer to realising its Olympic legacy programme after plans were unveiled for a new £7m sports centre and swimming pool. The proposed centre would be built on the Thorncliffe Recreation Ground in High Green and help fill the gap left by a £50m programme of cuts which has seen many existing facilities close, including Stocksbridge pool in April. It is expected to feature a 25m six-lane pool,

The organising committee for next year's football world cup in Brazil is coming under increased pressure to come up with a 'plan B' for some of the intended tournament venues. A number of stadium construction projects are badly behind schedule and the flagship project - Arena Corinthians in Sao Paolo, due to host the first game of the World Cup - suffered a tragic blow on Wednesday (27 November) when

Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid has released details of her firm’s latest innovative design project, the Al Wakrah Stadium to be created for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The designs are the first set to be released of a number of stadiums being prepared for the tournament, with Zaha Hadid Architects' designs for the 40,000-seater venue taking inspiration from dhow pearl fishing boats associated with Arabian maritime history. The site

Councillors in Scarborough have approved proposals for a multi-million pound leisure village, which will include a new 2,000-seater football ground, leisure facilities and an eight lane swimming pool. The plans have been hailed by Scarborough Council as a ‘fantastic opportunity’ for the area to build on the success for the London 2012 Olympic Games and encourage people to take up more active and healthier lifestyles. Cambridge-based Wrenbridge Land will continue

Newmilns Snow and Sport Complex in Ayrshire has reopened it’s dry skiing facilities following a £1m redevelopment. The complex, which originally opened in 1975 has undergone a seven-month transformation which has seen two new slopes built for both amateur and advanced skiers, replacing the original single beginner slope that had been there previously. The two new dry ski slopes, built by Barr Construction, measure at 32m (104ft) and (328ft) long

A new indoor swimming pool, spa and sports centre will open on 5 July 2014 after 26 months of construction work in the resort town of St Moritz, Switzerland. The Ovaverva is themed around the three states of water - gas, solid and liquid – with amenities including a wellness area, pools, a fitness centre, a cross country ski and outdoor sport centre and a restaurant. The 1,620sq m (17,437sq

A new £16m swimming pool and leisure complex has opened in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, six months later than originally scheduled. The Pier Parade project is part of South Tyneside Council’s regeneration plans. It was designed by LA architects and is being built by Graham construction. The new centre feature’s a 25m, eight-lane competition pool; an 18m teaching pool and leisure waters with flumes; sprays; bubble pools and water

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) have announced the winners of this year's international architectural awards for sports and leisure facilities. The prize-giving ceremony took place during the 23rd IAKS Congress in conjunction with the FSB event (International Trade Fair for Amenity Areas, Sports and Pool Facilities) in Cologne, Germany earlier this week. In total, three

Northampton Town FC chair David Cardoza has said plans to redevelop the club’s Sixfields Stadium are “the biggest thing which has ever happened to the club.” A planning application was submitted on 10 October, with the plans including an expanded west stand and a complete redevelopment of the east stand, with new corporate boxes and a conference centre. If planning permission is granted, work could begin as early as February

The world’s first ever Compact Athletics Facility (CAF), designed to allow track and field facilities to be built in places where there is limited space, has opened in Hackney, north east London. A joint initiative by England Athletics and Sport England, the £370,000 facility at Stoke Newington School includes a sprint straight, a long jump straight and pit, a high jump area, a throws area and a running trail around

A planning application for an £11m leisure centre in Washington has been unveiled by Sunderland City Council. The centre will include a six lane, 25m pool, a four court sports hall, a multi-purpose sports hall, two squash courts, sauna, steamrooms and relaxation area, a soft play centre and football pitches. A wellness centre will comprise a 100-station gym, spinning studio, exercise studio and two consultation rooms. Pellikaan Construction has already

Plymouth Argyle Football Club's (PAFC) chair James Brent has said the club will finally be able to shed its 'Cinderella status', following the approval of plans for a £50m regeneration of its Higher Home Park stadium. Plymouth City Council's planning committee gave its consent to the plans, which will see the aged venue turned into a regional hub for sport and leisure in South West of England. Brent hopes the

Japan's ability to organise and deliver on major projects and its fortitude in the face of a major challenge – as demonstrated by rebuilding after the tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster – is thought to have won it the 2020 Olympic bid. Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), stressed the importance to the IOC of ensuring the 2020 games is of the highest quality, saying: "Tokyo

Plans have been revealed to transform a 32-acre site in Kirkham, Lancashire into an £18m community sports, science and education centre. Plans for the Mill Farm site, drawn up by Frank Whittle Partnership, include a new 6,000-capacity home stadium for non-league AFC Fylde, a large indoor sports science building, a range of all-weather pitches for community use and a 63-bedroom hotel. There will also be a food store, a distribution

Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) has begun initial talks over the possibility of building a new 40,000-capacity stadium. It's believed the club is looking into a site at Old Oak Common in West London – close to its current home Loftus Road, which has a capacity of 18,400 and has been deemed too small to fit in with QPR's plans of becoming a regular Premier League club. The club's

Construction work to transform the London 2012 Olympic Stadium into a permanent sports and cultural venue has begun at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. During the work the stadium's capacity will be reduced from 80,000 to around 60,000 and a new roof will be fitted, covering every seat in the ground and improving the venue's acoustics. New retractable seating will also be installed so the lower bowl can be protracted

Plans have been approved to build a huge indoor surf centre in Snowdon, north Wales. Surf Snowdonia will be built on the site of a former aluminium factory and will feature a 30,000sq m (322,000sq ft) Wavegarden lake, 14,000sq m (150,000sq ft) wakeboarding lake, waterslide, restaurant, retail and indoor play facilities. The attraction will also include accommodation, with low impact, sleeping ‘pods’ to be located along the lake’s waterfront. Larger

The architects who designed the pool at Sheffield's Ponds Forge have said that comments made by British Swimming – that the pool is 'too fast' – are a compliment. Earlier this week, Bill Furniss, head coach of British Swimming, said the pool at Ponds Forge "distorts swimmers' times" and that he's considering holding qualifying events for the Olympics and other major competitions elsewhere. Michael Hall, from architects FaulknerBrowns – the

Chinese billionaire Tony Fung’s A$4.2bn (US$3.75bn, £2.4bn) mega leisure development in Cairns, Australia has moved to the next stage, having been declared a ‘co-ordinated project’ – the first step in the Australian government’s planning approval process. The Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef project would include nine luxury hotels, a 25,000-seater sports stadium, a casino and high-end retail space. The resort would offer 3,750 hotel rooms, 1,180 apartments and

Artist's impressions, claiming to show detailed plans for a new football stadium in New York, US, have emerged on the imgur.com photo sharing website. The plans purport to show the new home of the New York City Football Club (NYCFC) - a new franchise due to enter Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2015. NYCFC was announced as the MLS's 20th franchise in May 2013 and is a joint venture between

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Centre, Rugby's new leisure centre, is on track to opens its doors on 31 August. The new centre replaces the Ken Marriott Leisure Centre, which has been demolished after serving the town for 40 years. The centre, designed by B3 Architects, has been built on the site of the Ken Marriott Leisure Centre's car park. Facilities include two swimming pools, a 100-station gym, a climbing wall,

A design team has been appointed by Darwen Borough Council to deliver the £2.3m Witton Park Athletics Facility project, which is due to be complete in Spring 2014. The design team from Capita Symonds and Eric Wright Construction will be responsible for the project that aims to improve community sports facilities in the Borough. Home to Blackburn Harriers and Athletics Club; the new facility will include improved changing facilities, spectator