Milton Keynes national badminton centre plan abandoned

Plans for a new £22m national centre for badminton have been scrapped due to a growing "funding gap".

Badminton England had planning permission for a 17-court arena with 3,000 seats at the National Bowl site in Milton Keynes.

The sport's governing body said rising costs in the construction industry would have placed it at "considerable risk".

The plan had involved building 100 homes on its existing site in the city.

The proposal, announced in 2012, aimed to have the centre open this year and available for training ahead of the 2016 Olympics.

Badminton England wanted to replace its eight-court centre at Loughton, Milton Keynes and use the proceeds from the sale of that land for the new project.

Landowner Milton Keynes Council said a sale, provisionally agreed in 2013, would have allowed it to provide about £10m for the project.

Badminton England said it had a "manageable" funding shortfall of £1.5m-£2m in 2013, but rising construction costs had increased the shortfall to about £4m.

Adrian Christy, chief executive of Badminton England, said he was "incredibly disappointed" but pressing ahead would have put finances at "considerable risk".

"It would have been great for badminton and brilliant for sport in Milton Keynes as we were going to give primary schools free access," he said.

"We are still ambitious, but we'll let the dust settle and look at next steps in the new year."

Pete Marland, leader of Milton Keynes Council, said: "Unfortunately, we've been stymied by events out of our control."

The housing plan had been opposed by Loughton Parish Council.

Zoe Nolan, its deputy chairwoman, said "We were obviously very keen to have a world class badminton centre in Milton Keynes, but local people will be pleased to hear there will not now be more than 100 houses built on the edge of lovely Lodge Lake."

Badminton England had asked for a £2m grant from Sport England, but the application had now been shelved.