Smaller pools and more flats proposed for Brentford Fountain leisure centre redevelopment

Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre; Hounslow Council

Council proposes to sell land for flats as part of redevelopment in compromise on cost

The replacement of Brentford Leisure Centre will be discussed at Hounslow Council’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 20 January.

There are three options on the table. The preferred proposal for the replacement of the centre, which is now ‘at the end of its useful life’, includes a larger and improved gym, larger studios for group exercise, and ‘modern flexible pools with moveable floors to expand the range of water activities and family fun elements such as an interactive splash zone, sauna and steam rooms’.

But it also entails the Council selling some of the land to developers for flats and potentially commercial use in order to pay for it.

The large swimming pool at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre; Lampton Leisure

The public does not want to lose its swimming pool

Senior councillors will be asked by the Lead Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, Cllr Tom Bruce, to approve a £4.353m budget to make a start on the design work for the mixed development, promising it will provide ‘improved leisure facilities’ and a ‘mixed-use residential development’.

In his report, Cllr Bruce, who is also the Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council, will tell the Cabinet the inclusion of a housing development as part of the redevelopment will ‘help fund the cost of the replacement facility and minimise Council borrowing’.

The Council has considered various options for replacing the leisure centre, including ‘dry’ options to save money, but Cllr Bruce’s report says:

‘Public engagement highlighted strong support for retaining wet and dry facilities compared to a dry only leisure centre’.

Cllr Bruce will tell colleagues that over the past ten years, there have been numerous external market and policy changes with financial implications that have had an impact on the affordability of leisure centre projects. The Council is having to adapt its plans to align with ‘current economic realities’.

The Council also considered relocating the leisure centre, but decided the current site was the only suitable location.

The waterslide at Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre; Lampton Leisure

Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre ‘at the end of its useful life’

The report says Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre is ‘at the end of its useful life’. It recently had to be closed for essential repairs before Christmas.

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The building is now ‘beyond economical repair’, as refurbishment would cost as much as building a new centre from scratch.

The three options the Council has considered are Option A: a leisure centre without a swimming pool; Option B: an ‘optimised wet and dry leisure centre’ and Option C which has larger swimming pools, but the Council cannot afford, the report says.

The option Cllr Bruce will be recommending is Option B, which will also provide smaller pools, but ‘modern standard sports halls’, larger modern changing facilities, and ‘family friendly community spaces with soft play, café, buggy parking’, and bookable rooms.

He will present this option as offering ‘the best balance between cost efficiency, community benefit, and delivery risk’, arguing it will pay for itself, and will provide modern, accessible and inclusive leisure provision while also making a significant reduction in maintenance and repair costs and increasing energy efficiency.

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