New Leisure Centre for Bletchley

11.51.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jul 2007

A multi-million pound development to build a new leisure complex and hundreds of homes in Bletchley has moved a step closer this month.

A detailed planning application for the project to revitalise Bletchley town centre by replacing the aging leisure centre with a new state of the art leisure complex, and build the first phase of new homes as well as car parks, is now with Milton Keynes Council planning officers.

Public consultation in 2006 revealed overwhelming support for the Bletchley regeneration project with 79% in favour of the new housing and leisure centre plan.

Now if Council planners agree to the detailed plans, bulldozers will start clearing the land in November ready for work to begin on the new leisure centre in spring 2008.

The first new homes are due to be built next year and the new leisure complex is expected to open in late 2009.

During this time the old leisure centre will remain open, only closing once the new complex is open to make way for new homes on the site. Temporary car parking will also be provided during the building work.

Sport England has granted the project £1 million and Milton Keynes Partnership has made available a further £3.5 million, with £4.85 million coming from central government.

The leisure centre will include:

• 25-metre 8-lane swimming pool, including sauna and steam room

• 100-station fitness suite and exercise room

• 6-court multi-use sports hall and gymnastics hall

• 4 squash courts

• Indoor bowls rink.

The new leisure centre is being designed to be fully accessible to people with disabilities, with a purpose-designed ramp for easy access into the swimming pool and disability-friendly equipment in the fitness suite.

The area in front of the new leisure complex will also be developed into a plaza area. Work on giving the town centre a facelift has already begun, with the regeneration of the Queensway area with traffic-calming measures, planting and new street furniture.

Liberal Democrat councillor Euan Henderson, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure, said: "The swimming pool at Bletchley is coming to the end of its economic life and it is important for the whole area that we invest in a new leisure centre with a modern swimming pool that is less costly to run and better meets the needs of people with disabilities.

"An extra benefit is that this development will play an important part in regenerating Bletchley town centre to meet the demands of the 21st century."

The planning application is due to go to full council for approval in September.