Plans for new multi-million pound Ashfield leisure centre approved

As the plans for the facility were approved at Planning Committee, Council Leader Jason Zadrozny has spoken of the benefits and welcomed the progress.

The Planning Committee voted unanimously to approve the council’s plans for a state-of-the-art leisure centre coming to Kirkby town centre. The proposed site sits adjacent to the current Festival Hall Leisure Centre and the council has also been successful in its Expression of Interest to Sport England for £1.5m in funding support for the project.

Council leader Councillor Jason Zadrozny, described it as a momentous day for Ashfield.

Coun Zadrozny said: “For years residents have been promised new facilities with a swimming pool and today they absolutely move forward.

"Today we were granted full planning permission for a brand new leisure centre, two swimming pools, a cinema, a gym a climb area, a cafe. The future is looking incredibly bright.

“For all those residents who have wondered like I have whether this would actually ever happen - well it's happening.

“We've got the permission, we have now got a funding package that is almost £15.5 million to regenerate this site and I want to thank our partners at Spot England and Enterprise partnership who have funded us by £3million"

He said work would begin at the site ‘very quickly’.

Coun Zadrozny added new foundations will be laid and the pol would be dug. He said by Christmas people would be able to see 'big work ' at the site.

Following two successful consultation periods, the council submitted a planning application for the build in March 2020.

The council has worked with local residents who live adjacent to the new site as part of the planning process.

Ashfield District Council is also working closely with its procurement partners at Nottingham City Council to seek contractors on the project as major work is set to begin in the autumn.

However a councillor campaigning to save Edgewood Leisure Centre has described the new leisure centre planned for Kirkby as a ‘kick in the teeth’ for Hucknall families.

Hucknall South councillor Lauren Mitchell said: "This is a kick in the teeth for families in Hucknall who use Edgewood Leisure Centre. We have been campaigning Edgewood to stay open and have been completely ignored by the council whilst they charge ahead with plans for a brand new leisure centre in Kirkby, including a swimming pool which is less than 15 minutes from two other pools.

“Our petition to save Edgewood is still ongoing and can be signed online here”

Theresa Hodgkinson, Director for Place and Communities said “As part of the Leisure Transformation programme the Council is committed to providing high quality leisure facilities across the District. Our aim is for each of our towns to have a state of the art leisure centre.

Hucknall Leisure Centre is undergoing major investment, and future plans will see state of the art changing rooms as well as improvements to the fitness suite. As part of the procurement for the new leisure contractor we are also exploring options to expand Hucknall Leisure Centre further.”