Have your say on proposals for a £25 million leisure centre in Leighton-Linslade
Thursday, 28 April 2022
Proposals for a modern, exciting new £25 million leisure centre in Leighton-Linslade have been published and we're asking local people to have their say on the proposals.
Find out how to have your say.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks until Friday 22 July 2022.
The new leisure centre will include:
- 3 new swimming pools – an eight-lane, 25-metre, community swimming pool complete with 100 spectator seats, a learner pool with a moveable floor to alter the depth for lessons and other activities, and a separate shallow pool, known as a ‘confidence water’
- a large 150 station fitness suite (gym)
- 2 multi-use studios for various exercise classes and activities
- a dedicated group cycle studio
- 2 squash courts
- a creche and café
- 2 Changing Places facilities
- access to walking and cycling routes linking to the new and existing communities and nearby informal open space
The proposed leisure centre will be in the Clipstone Park housing development, on the east of Leighton-Linslade, and will benefit from a landscaped setting and outdoor sports pitches which are being provided by the new housing developments; as well as a large car park and a bus stop providing good access for residents and leisure centre users.
Three in-person events and one online engagement event will enable people to meet the project team and look at the plans. They will take place on the following dates and times:
- 14 May (10am until 3pm) – Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre
- 17 May (10am until 2pm) – Leighton Buzzard Market
- 21 June (6pm until 7:30pm) - Online Microsoft Teams meeting
- 2 July (10am until 3pm) – Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre
Councillor Tracey Stock, our Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Communities, said:
We continue to invest significantly in new sports and leisure facilities across Central Bedfordshire as part of our commitment to provide communities with access to modern, high-quality leisure facilities.
The current leisure facility in Leighton-Linslade is outdated and no longer fit for purpose so we plan to build a superb, new £25 million centre. We hope the proposals, which feature a range of impressive activities in a wonderful new setting, excite residents as we strive to provide enhanced health and wellbeing options for people to use and enjoy.
I encourage people to read the proposals, have their say and hopefully be inspired to lead a more active lifestyle using the local facilities available to them.
Subject to planning approval, the construction of the new leisure centre will start in 2023 and is likely to open in summer 2025. The new facility will replace those facilities at the existing Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre.
To ensure continuous leisure provision is available for residents, the existing centre will stay open until the new centre is complete.
A Community Use Agreement with Cedars School will ensure the community can continue to use the current sports hall and squash courts, which will be run by the school.