Work Starts on £611k 3G Pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, Opening Next Spring
Women playing football (Photo: Brighton & Hove City Council)
Work has started on a new £611,000 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre in Brighton, Brighton & Hove City Council announced on 14 October. The council says the pitch is due to open next spring and that, when bookings open, priority will go to clubs and groups running sessions for women and girls.
The project is backed by a £410,000 grant from the Football Foundation, which describes itself as the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity. The council says the rest comes from its Section 106 developer funding, with a contribution from Coldean Colts FC, a Partner Club for the project.
Who is paying for it
The council’s release names three sources of money for the project.
Why women and girls come first
The council links the new pitch to two major tournaments that Brighton & Hove hosted. It says the Lionesses played at the American Express Stadium on their way to becoming European champions in 2022, and that rugby participation has soared since the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, when England’s Red Roses played at the city stadium before becoming world champions.
The council says the pitch will give women and girls new opportunities to play both football and rugby. When it opens for bookings, priority will go to clubs and groups delivering sessions for women and girls, including Hove Rugby Club and Coldean Colts football club.
“We’d like to thank the Football Foundation for this generous grant, which is going to make a huge difference to the local community, particularly to women and girls keen to play football and rugby.”
“Providing opportunities for our residents to take part in sport is a huge priority for us, and this new facility will undoubtedly nurture talent and change lives.”
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport, Recreation and Libraries
More on women’s and girls’ rugby in the city is under Hove Rugby Club on ImJustBrighton, including our report on the girls’ rugby festival in Hove.
What the Football Foundation and Sussex County FA say
“The Football Foundation is working closely with our partners (the Premier League, The FA and Government) to transform the quality of grassroots facilities in England by delivering projects like this across the country.”
“Good quality playing facilities have a transformative impact on physical and mental health and play an important role in bringing people together and strengthening local communities.”
“This grant award to Brighton & Hove City Council towards developing a 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre is fantastic news for the local community and will help give more people access to a great place to play.”
Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation
“This investment is a fantastic boost for grassroots football in Brighton & Hove. Facilities like this 3G pitch are vital for growing participation and ensuring that everyone, especially women and girls, have access to safe, high-quality places to play. We’re proud to support projects that strengthen communities and inspire the next generation of players across Sussex.”
Thomas Lyons, Chief Executive, Sussex County FA
The centre and the work so far
Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre is on Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton, BN2 4PB. Freedom Leisure runs it on behalf of the council.
Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton (Map: Google Maps)
Freedom Leisure had already told users in a notice on its website that initial investigative works, needed for planning, would begin on Monday 2 March. The last day the existing field could be used was Sunday 1 March.
The notice says there could be temporary changes to car park access, some areas cordoned off for safety, and periods of noise during groundworks, with contractors also carrying out trenching. It says actual construction of the 3G pitch begins once the works are complete and the planning conditions have been discharged.
Freedom Leisure says the pitch will increase year-round availability, improve playing quality, support local clubs and community sport, and improve the facilities at Moulsecoomb. It says it will give regular updates in the centre and by email.
Why 3G pitches matter locally
The Football Foundation’s Local Football Facility Plan for Brighton and Hove sets out priority projects for potential investment in the city. It says the council’s playing pitch strategy, adopted in 2016, found shortfalls of 3G pitches and of all grass football pitch types. The plan includes a new floodlit 7v7 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre among its projects.
The plan describes 3G pitches as surfaces that replicate a good standard natural turf pitch while allowing far more use, and says they must have sports lighting to achieve that.
From the playing pitch strategy to a new pitch
What happens next
The council says the pitch is due to open next spring. Clubs and groups that want to book it can find the centre’s details on the Freedom Leisure page for Moulsecoomb, or call the centre on 01273 622266. More from Sport, Football and Moulsecoomb is on ImJustBrighton.
Sources
- Brighton & Hove City Council news release: Work starts on new 3G pitch at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre, 14 October 2026
- Freedom Leisure: Exciting News for Moulsecoomb, 3G Pitch Development starting soon
- Football Foundation: Brighton and Hove Local Football Facility Plan
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990, section 106
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