Plans in for £6.4m Urmston leisure centre

A planning application has been submitted for the £6.4m overhaul of Urmston leisure centre, designed by 5plus Architects.

The project includes the partial demolition and extension of the existing 1990s leisure centre, and will include the addition of a café, three studios, a party room, fitness suite, and changing facilities.

The front of the existing building, which covers 31,400 sq ft, will be extensively remodelled to create a reception and entrance area.

Funding for the leisure centre was signed off by client Trafford Council in September this year.

The project was originally set to cost £2.1m, but this has more than trebled due to a radical overhaul of the scheme, with the addition of a larger fitness space, a first floor, and an enhanced reception area since the funding package was originally agreed in November 2016.

Existing facilities, including a swimming pool and sports hall, will also be upgraded as part of the plans.

These works were expected to cost £770,000, but this increased to £1.2m following a report by the project’s professional team, which also includes Gardiner & Theobald as project manager, Hoare Lea and M&E consultant, and HL Structural Engineers.

The extension forms part of the council’s plans to invest in local leisure centres, including Urmston and Sale, which is expected to cost around £30m.

This is around £6m more than originally anticipated, with a capital investment package of £24.4m agreed in November last year.

In September, the council also agreed to “explore further options and opportunities” for Sale Leisure Centre, following a report by its design team.

The refurbishment and improvement was originally set to cost £4.4m, but the executive said it would need “further time to consider the full range of options”, with proposals set to be considered at a future council meeting.