Work on the Centre, based in Newton Heath in Manchester, is due to be completed later this year in time for Britain's top taekwondo athletes to use it in the build-up to Rio 2016.

The Centre will be home to 130 athletes, coaches and administration staff.

It will be the first time they will all have been under the same roof since GB Taekwondo moved to Manchester and made it its headquarters.

The refurbishment has been funded with grants from Sport England and Manchester City Council, both of whom are working closely with elite sport experts from GB Taekwondo and UK Sport to develop a world-class, purpose built training venue for British athletes.

As well as providing for elite athletes, the Centre will support the development of GB Taekwondo's next generation of champions through its Sport England talent identification programme.

Becoming a hub for grass roots community initiatives will also be an important part of the Centre's remit.

Work has recently started at the Ten Acre Lane site with the project's contractor, Balfour Beatty, in conjunction with Manchester architects AEW, and is expected to take around seven months to complete.



Steve Flynn, GB Taekwondo's operations director, claimed the new updated facility will help Britain be more successful at future Olympics and World Championships.

"In the eight years since Manchester became home to taekwondo in Great Britain, athletes have used a variety of training facilities throughout the city while administration and support staff have been based in separate offices," he said.

"Now, we are all coming together under one roof and the National Taekwondo Centre will have a real, positive impact at every level of the sport and none more so than on our Olympic preparations for Rio 2016.

"To achieve world class performances, athletes and staff need access to world class training facilities.

"it is also important to note that the National Centre will not only be home to some of the world's best athletes, it will also allow members of the local community to train alongside our GB squad, inspiring future generations of taekwondo stars."

Lutalo Muhammad, who trains at Britain's National Taekwondo Centre, won a bronze medal at London 2012 and hopes the refurbishment will help him do even better at Rio 2016
©Getty Images

Britain won two Olympic medals at London 2012, a gold for Jade Jones in the women's 57 kilogram category and bronze for Lutalo Muhammad in the men's 80kg. 

"The GB Academy has already had a huge impact on my life but the support we are now receiving to expand our training centre will take us to a new level" said Muhammad.

"When I first moved to Manchester there were probably only about 12 athletes training here.

"Now, it is has changed beyond recognition and at all levels.

"The new National Taekwondo Centre will ensure we have the very best facilities, equipment and support services at our disposal.

"And to have this all in one place will be massive for us.

"It's going to provide a great boost in the lead up to the Olympics and I'm hugely excited by what is happening."

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure, admitted the success of Britain's taekwondo athletes had encouraged them to invest in the new project. 

"Manchester is home to GB Taekwondo and I am proud to see the expansion of the nation centre in Newton Heath, it will allow our athletes to develop while also help the growth of the sport," she said. 

"The success of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix, which has been held in Manchester for the last three years, has shown there is a real appetite for the sport and the new centre will allow us to build on that interest."

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