Costs of leisure centre increase

Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet were asked to approve an enhanced financial package after the costs of the centre in West Denton increased from £22.3m to £26m.

A progress report which went to Cabinet on Monday, October 17, put the additional cost down to general inflation and extra facilities due to the council’s public consultation.

The swimming pool will be enlarged from six to eight lanes; it will have spectator seating for galas; sauna and steam rooms; the library will have an additional quiet area and the children’s play area will be enlarged.

To meet the rising costs, the council will bid to Sport England for a grant of up to £2m. The remainder will be met by the council from section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Cabinet Member for a Vibrant City, Cllr Lesley Storey, who is responsible for leisure, said: “The new leisure centre will be a fantastic addition for the whole of the city and wider region.

“It will not only promote healthy lifestyles, new job and training opportunities, but also back the council’s net zero ambitions with the building’s carbon reducing features.

“We consulted widely with residents and partners and listened very carefully. As a result, we added in new features like a bigger swimming pool, spectator seating, sauna, and steam rooms.

“Coupled with inflation running at 10 per cent, the costs of the project have gone up – like every other construction project in the country. However, we remain committed to building a leisure centre that people feel excited and proud about in the Outer West."

Cllr Storey added: “We are robustly project managing this programme and although there are some slips on the timescales, they are entirely understandable and we feel that we are in a very, very good place with this project.”

The report also revealed the centre will not be open by summer 2024 as initially hoped. It’s now expected to be open by December 2024.

The delay is due to a change in arrangements to procure a design and construction partner, site investigations requiring extra groundworks, and a longer build time due to the extra facilities.

Cabinet also agreed to appoint a building contractor, start site works in preparation for the demolition of the old West Denton Pool which the new centre will replace, and proceed with the bid for grant funding to Sport England.

The leisure centre was granted planning permission in August this year.

It became possible after the City Council successfully bid for £19.8m to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in October 2021. The council agreed to contribute a further £2.5m bringing the total cost to £22.3m.

Further funding from the council, Sport England, and a contribution from GLL, who will run the leisure centre, will meet the new £26m bill.

It is hoped the council will know by January 2023 if it has been successful in its bid for grant funding to Sport England.