Sport England has announced that it will fund five cycling projects across the country as part of its ‘Inspired Facilities’ funding pot.

The largest of the projects is in Pendle in Lancashire. The Steven Burke sports hub in Pendle has successfully secured backing for a 1.2-kilometre circuit and pavilion. The circuit will be part of an existing football and cricket arena and has received £150,000 from Sport England with match funding from Pendle Borough Council.

The Lancashire Environmental fund have also backed the scheme to the tune of £30,000 and British Cycling are likely to offer assistance to enhance the project that will include floodlighting, spectator fencing and a renovated pavilion.

Olympic champion Steven Burke said: “It’s a real honour to have the Hub named after me and the circuit will be a major boost to the clubs in the area, on behalf of everyone involved a big thank you to Pendle Borough Council, British Cycling, Sport England and the Lancashire Environmental fund.”

Club spokesman Peter Boast said: “We have worked hand in hand with the Borough Engineers and we put together a very strong bid to Sport England. It’s taken three years and two attempts at funding but well worth the effort, With grass roots development at the heart of CSP it won’t be long before we have other boys and girls following in Stevens wheels. We now have the Pendle Cycling Development Partnership (CDPP) in place which will be very important post build.”

Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund is focused on making it easier for local community and volunteer groups to improve and refurbish sports clubs or transform non-sporting venues into modern grassroots sport facilities. Four other projects have also received funding.

Chessington Cycle Track in Kingston Upon Thames will receive £122,000; Hucote Hornets BMX Club in the East Midlands will receive £50,000 to build a regional race track, and the WatchTree Nature Reserve in Cumbria will receive £50,000 for an accessible cycle track.

Commenting on the funding awards, British Cycling’s National Facilities Officer, Dave Cockram, said: “The more cycling facilities that exist across England, the more opportunities we’re giving people of all ages to get into cycling, whichever discipline appeals to them. I am pleased that five cycling projects are being funded by Sport England.

"British Cycling will do all it can to help and support the successful applicants and we hope to see many more projects receive funding in future rounds. We have big ambitions on cycling facilities over the next few years. The major projects for this year and next are the Derby Velodrome and closed road circuit, the Torbay Outdoor Velodrome and closed road circuit, the York Outdoor Velodrome and closed circuits in Nottingham and Hull.”