Feedback sought for £6m Frodsham Leisure Centre upgrades

Ellis Williams Architects is leading the design of Cheshire West and Chester Council’s 24,300 sq ft community, library, and fitness space off Princeway.

The Frodsham Leisure Centre project includes demolishing two floors of the building and refurbishing the remaining 16,200 sq ft. An 8,100 sq ft extension is then set to be added. The project was originally budgeted for between £4m and £4.5m, but was boosted to £6m by CWAC, which is co-delivering the scheme alongside its community interest company Brio.

The local authority is now soliciting feedback on its proposals from residents, showcasing initial concept drawings to give an idea as to what the future centre may look like. The council’s engagement exercise for the project runs until 16 March and can be found at brioleisure.org/centres/brio-frodsham/brio-frodsham-refurb.

The proposals include a community room, 70-station gym, dedicated spin studio, multi-purpose community room, and a Changing Places toilet. The work would also see the leisure centre become more accessible, with the library services offered better integrated.

Clancy Consulting is leading on M&E, Curtins on structural and civil engineering, and Keelagher Okey Klein on CDM principal design. The project team also includes cost consultant Make North West and Cheshire Ecological Services.

CWAC cabinet member for children and young people Cllr Adam Langan said: “While the council and wider local government has faced significant financial challenges, our residents want to see capital investment to fund local improvements.

“We are now able to announce a significant increase in funding from the council for this project by committing £6m to refurbishments.”

Langan continued: “Frodsham is an important site for leisure, library, health and wellbeing services and the council has been working closely with Brio and key stakeholders to consider options following the completion of community consultation and feasibility studies.

“Together with the appointment of the architectural team of Ellis Williams, the increased funding can help to turn our ambition to improve local facilities for health and wellbeing, into reality,” he said.

Brio managing director Matt Parker added: “These plans are without doubt a significant step forward, and we hope that the people of Frodsham and beyond will be excited.

“With the facility going from strength to strength in terms of the programme it offers, the number of sports clubs using the facility and ever-increasing levels of customer demand, we are committed to working with the council to build on this to further support and improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.”