The borough’s main leisure centre will benefit from a £1.6 million revamp to create an improved spa, new soft play area for children and additional fitness studio.
The improvement plan for Bracknell Leisure Centre was agreed at a meeting of full council on Wednesday 12 July, with work due to start later this summer.
The improvements will bring areas of the popular leisure centre up-to-date which were not redeveloped in 2018.
It will see the space behind the café and the current squash courts transformed in to a new soft play centre for children, facing on to the existing café. New squash courts will be created in the space vacated by the Whoosh play centre.
The spa will be fully upgraded to a high spec and will be redecorated too.
Work is due to start later this summer with all improvements due to be complete and open early in 2024.
Cllr Kandy Jefferies, Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection, said:
“Providing modern and inviting leisure facilities for all our residents is really important. This £1.6 million upgrade of Bracknell Leisure Centre will enhance what we have on offer for children so they can be active through play from a very young age. It will also improve the spa for relaxation, create new squash courts and add an additional fitness studio to the centre.
“The work will be carried out over the summer and autumn and should be ready for people to enjoy from early in 2024.”
Mark Tennant, Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said:
“We’re delighted to hear the council has given approval to progress with plans to redevelop parts of Bracknell Leisure Centre. We are committed to providing a service which meets the needs of the local community and supports in prioritising their health and wellbeing.
"Breaking down barriers to participation to create a space that is inclusive for all is vitality important to us, and we see the plans as a real step forward in providing a modern facility for everyone to enjoy.”
The work will be funded by developer contributions (sometimes referred to as section 106 money) that the council receives for leisure improvements. This money is ring-fenced and cannot be used for anything else other than public leisure facilities. It will be topped up with money the council borrows, which will be paid off through an increased management fee, so there will be no cost to taxpayers.
