Leisure centre set for demolition in last phase of major plan for Selston school

A planning application has been submitted to Ashfield District Council to demolish the leisure centre, which sits within the campus of Selston High School on Chapel Road.

This follows the council’s decision last November to give the green light to an exciting scheme for a new, high-quality £1 million sports hall, which could include courts for five-a-side football, netball and badminton, plus a fitness and activity studio.

It will be open to the public in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays, and work is set to start on its construction in the coming months.

Built in 1974, the current leisure centre was popular and well-used in its heyday, and was refurbished in 2004.

Previously operated by Everyone Active, the building was transferred in 2018 to the Two Counties Trust, which runs the 880-pupil school.

But it closed during the Covid pandemic soon afterwards and has only partly re-opened since for community use.

Planning papers say: “Although the school has continued to use it, the centre is outdated, in poor condition and no longer fit for purpose.

"It is remote from the current changing facilities and gym. And the internal space is outdated, with no daylighting and no potential for natural ventilation.

"It creates an uninspiring place for exercise, health and wellbeing.”

The demolition is the fourth and final phase of the redevelopment of Selston High, formerly known as Mathew Holland School.

The first phase is the new sports hall and the second is the refurbishment of the school’s central courtyard to create a new dining room, kitchen and upgraded library, for which a planning application was submitted in February.

Phase three is a new space for alternative provision (AP) for students who need specialised education. AP is currently located in a building shared with a local youth club, which ”causes issues”, according to planning papers.

If given the go-ahead, the demolition of the leisure centre would create space for the relocation of the school’s car park, complete with 40 spaces.

Staff currently park around the main central building. But students move in and around this area to and from lessons during the day, so the new car park, to be accessed via security fob, would “create a safer and more secure environment”.

Under head teacher David Broomhead, Selston High, which converted to academy status ten years ago, is rated ‘Good’ by the education watchdog, Ofsted.

It is one of ten secondary schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire that are run by the Kirkby-based Two Counties Trust.

David Plummer, corporate services director at the trust, lodged with the council this latest planning application, which includes associated landscaping.

Details of all four phases of the project are accompanied by planning papers, statements and drawings compiled by the trust’s agent, Sheffield-based architects, Race Cottam Associates.

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the demolition proposal and have set a deadline date of Thursday, July 23 to make a decision or recommendation.

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/