Welcome to the website for East Durham Community Athletics Track (EDCAT).
We are raising funds in order to build and maintain an athletics facility in Sedgefield, Co-Durham. The facility will be suitable for disabled use and its aim is to support the aspirations of athletes and be available to those wanting to try sports and train.
The charity itself is a part of the overall project, which is made up of a dedicated team of people all with a common goal, the promotion of athletics and in particular the provision of an athletics facility.
Update – 12 February 2025
The trustees of East Durham Community Athletics Track (EDCAT) welcome the decision of the cabinet of Durham County Council today to approve the offer of an option agreement to the charity for a period of two years which will enable the trustees to secure the funding required to bring the project to fruition and further develop the business plan to ensure the athletics facility is successful over the thirty-year period of the lease that will follow.
EDCAT emanated from local athletics club Sedgefield Harriers which achieved unprecedented success by becoming UK Athletics Club of the Year and England Athletics Development Club of the year in 2011 largely in recognition of its achievements in attracting large number of local children mainly from Sedgefield and the East Durham area into sport and encouraging a healthy and aspirational lifestyle. Sedgefield Harriers will be the ‘home club’ at the track and facilities. The trustees have never wavered from their vision that they could build on this success and be a significant influence on the lives of generations of young people as well as older people who wish to be active in a safe environment and further that this could be achieved via a visionary volunteering initiative. They look forward to working with local clubs and organisations to achieve these goals. In addition, recognising and appreciating the vision of Durham County Council in offering the opportunity for the facility to be located at the prestigious NETPark development EDCAT look forward to making the facility available to the benefit of businesses and employees on NETPark and being a part of the wellbeing offer for innovative businesses based at this cutting-edge technology park in Sedgefield, County Durham.
The work now begins to bring the facility to life!
Update – 6 February 2025
A statement from Durham County Council:
“Councillors will be updated on plans to create a new community athletics track near Sedgefield when they meet next week.
East Durham Community Athletics Track (EDCAT) was set up to raise funds for an athletics facility to support the aspirations of athletes of all abilities.
With our support, the charity investigated a number of potential sites before settling on land at the North East Technology Park (NETPark) as its preferred option.
We own NETPark and, next week, our Cabinet will be asked to grant EDCAT an Option Agreement on 16.2 acres of land at the park.
The agreement will give the charity time, and the legal rights required, to develop a robust and sustainable business plan for the facility.
Cabinet will hear that while the creation of the athletics track would result in a loss of land for strategic employment in the future, a further 100 acres would still be available at NETPark, providing substantial development opportunities for years to come.
What is more, the athletics track supports our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of communities and creating more opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in sport and physical activity.”
Visit their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/durhamcouncil/posts/pfbid024w6nm1LZWdncALjsGmDdpz4CpHiDcfpHnQtA1bwEXFCDHjBKjcPWiPMFBM2LHrdDl
Planning Update – 5 April 2022
We are delighted to report that at today’s meeting of the County Planning Committee the plans to develop the track were approved! This is an important leap forward in our planning for the track, and we thank all the individuals and businesses who have worked so hard to make this a reality. For more background, please see the attached press release.
Visit or our Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/EDCATrack.