Hopkins wins planning for Wiggins velodrome

Hopkins has won planning for a £1.8m pavilion and upgrade project at London’s historic Herne Hill velodrome.

The project was designed by partner Mike Taylor, who was also the architect of the Olympic Velodrome at Stratford.

Herne Hill, where Bradley Wiggins learnt to race as a child, opened in 1891 and was used as the velodrome for the 1948 Olympics. Olympic gold medalist Wiggins is hoping to break the world hour record at Stratford on Sunday.

In recent years the facilities fell into disrepair – despite the track remaining in heavy use.

The Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, which was formed in 2011, has now raised almost all the money needed for the pavilion which includes changing facilities, offices a cafe and bike storage.

Work could start this year and complete in time for the 125th anniversary celebrations at the track next summer.

It will be the culmination of a gradual project of renewal which began with a resurfacing of the track and floodlights and has seen the number of users more than double to 34,000 a year.

Taylor, who lives nearby and whose family uses the velodrome, said: “To complement the 2012 Velodrome in Stratford, south east London can now have decent facilities to support the already popular outdoor track at Herne Hill.

“In combination these two venues will really help promote cycling in London. After our experience delivering the Olympic venue we are delighted to be able to help out at Herne Hill too.”

The trust’s Hillary Peachey said they were “over the moon”.

“For far too long, visitors and riders at Herne Hill have had only basic facilities that do not do justice to the site,” she said. “Herne Hill has been vital to the cycling history of Great Britain and now, with this final piece of the jigsaw secured, will play a role in the future.”

Hopkins has an exhibit at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition tracing the history of Herne Hill, including some of the vintage images shown here.