New multi-use leisure development for Ely
by Caroline Wilkinson | 20 May 2008
East Cambridgeshire District Council has announced plans to develop a £11.5m leisure centre in Ely and is in negotiations with a number of leisure management firms to secure a 25-year design, build and manage partnership. The scheme has been developed following advice from consultants Strategic Leisure.
The development will be funded through council reserves, section 106 funding and income from possible commercial developments on the site. Strategic Leisure has suggested a cinema, a hotel/restaurant and a commercial five-a-side football centre with up to six, dual-use, floodlit pitches adjacent to the centre.
When complete, the new centre will have an eight-lane competition pool and teaching pool, a six-court sports hall and a 100-station health and fitness suite.
The council is also considering spending a further £1.5m to provide a synthetic pitch, two new grass pitches and a clubhouse. These facilities would link the new leisure centre to the facilities of the Ely Outdoor Sports Association (EOSA), which already has a full-size, floodlit synthetic turf pitch, three outdoor tennis courts, three netball courts and two rugby pitches.
Councillor Peter Cresswell, chair of the community services committee at the council, said: “A new leisure centre is exactly what our district needs. We’ve moved forward quickly to identify a site, funding options and a mix of commercial investment opportunities to make this development a reality. It’s crucial that we get this right – we want to ensure a fit and active community for generations to come.”
The council plans to put the project out to tender in January 2010 with a planned opening in 2011.
East Cambridgeshire District Council has announced plans to develop a £11.5m leisure centre in Ely and is in negotiations with a number of leisure management firms to secure a 25-year design, build and manage partnership. The scheme has been developed following advice from consultants Strategic Leisure. The development will be funded through council reserves, section 106 funding and income from possible commercial developments on the site. Strategic Leisure has suggested
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