A new road bike racing circuit named after team pursuit Olympic gold medallist Steven Burke is to be built in the North West.
The £300,000 closed circuit has been funded by a consortia that includes British Cycling, Sport England, Pendle Council and Cycle Sport Pendle.
Work on the facility will start in January and it is expected to open in August. The new circuit will be built around five miles south of Barnoldswick, where component manufacturer Hope Technology hopes to build a self-funded velodrome.
Like similar closed circuits that British Cycling has part-funded, such as a facility in Bath, Somerset, and York, which opened in 2014, the circuit will be used by cyclists of all levels, from beginners through to elite racers.
British Cycling chief executive Ian Drake said: “British Cycling is very pleased to partner with Pendle Council and other funders to build this fantastic new cycling facility.
“The new circuit will allow many more young people in the North West to participate in cycling and help develop the sport in the region even further."
The new circuit, will be situated at Swinden Playing Fields, close to Nelson, Barrowford and Colne, from where Burke hails.
