Approval granted to replace aging leisure center with state-of-the-art sports centre

Plans to transform an aging leisure center into a new state-of-the-art sports and wellness center have been approved by members of Leeds City Council’s north and east plans committee.

Gipton’s Fearnville Leisure Center – which dates back to the 1980s – will now be replaced by a much-needed new facility which will boost the health and wellbeing of children, families, the local community and sports clubs in the area.

The new-look center will be built on part of the King George V Playing Fields, a 28-acre green space that houses the current leisure center and will include high-quality facilities such as a 25-metre main pool , a student pool and paddling pool, a 120-station gym, all-weather pitch, spin studio, family makeover village, soft play, party rooms and a cafe.

Work is expected to start on site early in the new year and take around 18 months.

The existing center will remain open for use while the new facility is built, before being demolished once construction is complete.

It is hoped the new site will encourage greater uptake of physical activity among residents of Gipton and Harehills and Killingbeck and Seacroft – densely populated wards suffering from low life expectancy and high obesity rates – as well as benefiting east Leeds .

Councilor Salma Arif, executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This is an exciting step forward in the delivery of a new facility which will provide a significant boost to the health and wellbeing of people in East Leeds.

“We hope the new center will be a great source of pride for the local community, providing increased opportunities for physical activity as well as bringing social and mental health benefits to all who use it.

“Improving the health and wellbeing of our residents is one of the foundations of the council’s best city ambition and this new facility reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that people who are poorest improve their health fastest.

“We now look forward to moving on to the next phase of the plans and seeing this long-held ambition become a reality.”

Plans also include tree planting and soft landscaping to increase the site’s biodiversity, with hummingbirds, birds and other wildlife giving people new opportunities to get in touch with nature.

Local demand for sports and leisure facilities will increase over the coming years with thousands of new homes planned through the East Leeds Extension and related development sites.

IT’S ENDING

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