Sale Leisure centre could be knocked down and replaced by a new swimming pool and sports facilities

The investment by the Council forms part of a borough-wide strategy to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by increasing levels of physical activity.

Members of the Executive rubber stamped proposals for the two centres, part of the Council’s Leisure Centre Investment Strategy, at its meeting on Monday evening.  

The leisure centre in Stretford, part of the Civic Quarter Masterplan, will include a 25m pool and 18m leisure pool, a 160 station fitness suit and a nine court sports hall including an indoor cricket practice area. The siting of the centre will depend on the results of the Civic Quarter Masterplan consultation. It is expected to open in 2021.

The proposals for Altrincham’s £22m centre  include a 25m pool and 25m leisure pool with a moveable floor, a 100-station fitness suite,  which  is twice the size of the existing facility, a six-court sports hall and squash courts. The existing swimming pool will be kept open during the works which are expected to take around 18 months. The centre is expected to open in 2022 on the site of the existing centre .

Consultations with both communities will take place as part of the planning application for the two new centres which will be operated, like the current ones, by Trafford Leisure.

Cllr Kevin Procter, Executive Member for Communities and Housing, said: “This is fantastic news for the borough – two new state-of-the-art leisure centres. This is exactly what is needed in Trafford and will benefit tens of thousands of families.

“As a Council we are committed to creating opportunities for people to be active and stay healthy. We all know how important exercise is in preventing illness and improving wellbeing and happiness.

“This has a direct impact in reducing the growing burden on the health and social care system. These new centres will be life-changing for many people.”

The interim plans for George Carnall Leisure Centre were also agreed at the meeting. The Centre will remain fully operational at least until the construction work and handover is completed at Urmston Leisure Centre, which will be by early 2020.

In the intervening period, the Council is committed to a full consultation with residents on the future community use at the centre, which should commence in early 2019. The procurement process of selecting a development partner will shortly commence. A major role of the successful partner will be to work with local people to ensure that the needs of the community are listened to, and as far as possible incorporated into the future plans. A further report on this will go to the Executive in due course.

Meanwhile, a large-scale refurbishment of Urmston Leisure Centre previously agreed is due to start January 2019, subject to planning approval, and is due for completion early 2020.