The winner of the SAPCA Award 2026 for Large Project of the Year was Smith Construction for the expansion of Bluecoats Sports at Christ’s Hospital School.
The £8 million project includes four panoramic Padel courts, a 400m six lane all weather athletics track with full field event facilities, and the UK’s first “Get Active” outdoor exercise adventure trail.
The Bluecoats Sports expansion at Christ’s Hospital School is a flagship example of innovation, sustainability, and community impact in modern sports facility design. This transformative development has created a vibrant multi-sport hub that celebrates inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and active living. A genuine benchmark for excellence and a great example of what winning a SAPCA Award requires.
Description of facilities
The project brings together four panoramic Padel courts, a 400m six-lane athletics track with full field facilities, and the UK’s first “Get Active” outdoor exercise adventure trail, an imaginative and pioneering concept that promotes participation across all ages and abilities. Every aspect of the design has been delivered to the highest standard, creating spaces that balance professional performance with accessibility, enjoyment, and social engagement.
At its core, the project demonstrates a holistic and forward-thinking approach to sports construction. Sustainability and environmental sensitivity are embedded throughout the design, materials and layout were chosen to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, preserving the natural character of the site while delivering state of the art facilities.
The development perfectly reflects Christ’s Hospital School’s ethos of education, wellbeing, and opportunity. The facilities support both student and community use, encouraging physical health, teamwork, and inclusion. The introduction of Padel, one of the UK’s fastest growing and most accessible sports, adds a fresh, dynamic dimension, appealing to a wide demographic and bridging the gap between recreational and competitive sport.
Creating social value
The Bluecoats Sports expansion at Christ’s Hospital School delivers outstanding and enduring social value through enhanced health, wellbeing and community engagement. Designed to go far beyond sporting performance, the project embodies inclusivity, sustainability and personal development, creating spaces that inspire active, connected, and healthy lifestyles.
The installation of four panoramic Padel courts has introduced one of the UK’s fastest growing and most sociable sports to both the school and the wider community.
The new 400m six lane running track and athletics facilities provide year-round opportunities for students and local clubs to train, compete, and enjoy sport in a safe, professional environment. These facilities promote discipline, perseverance, and collaboration. Core values that support both personal growth and community spirit.
Adding further value, the “Get Active” adventure trail, the first of its kind in the UK, promotes outdoor exercise in a fun and imaginative way. Its range of activity stations encourages running, climbing, balancing, and jumping, improving physical fitness while supporting mental wellbeing, confidence, and resilience through play and exploration.
Beyond the health benefits, the development strengthens community ties by providing accessible facilities for pupils, residents, and local sports groups. It aligns with the school’s mission to promote holistic education that extends beyond the classroom, nurturing physical, social, and emotional wellbeing for all users.
Smith Construction said: “Sustainability underpins the entire project. Green infrastructure, biodiversity enhancements and environmentally conscious design ensure its positive impact extends to the natural environment, reinforcing long-term ecological and social responsibility.
“The Bluecoats Sports expansion is far more than an infrastructure project. It is an investment in people, place, and participation, encouraging active lifestyles, improving health, fostering inclusivity, and inspiring future generations to lead balanced, connected and sustainable lives.
Above all, the Bluecoat Sports expansion is about vision, creating an inspiring, sustainable, and inclusive centre for physical activity that will benefit generations to come. It demonstrates how collaboration between education, sport, and construction professionals can deliver facilities that not only achieve sporting excellence but also nurture wellbeing, sustainability, and community pride.”
