The enabling works have officially begun at the new Kingfisher Leisure Centre.

The works, which are being carried out by Kingston Council's construction partner Pellikaan, will include creating a temporary site access point.

According to Councillor Olly Wehring, Chair of Kingston & North Kingston Neighbourhood, "The trees are being pruned (in line with planning permission) and the hoarding has been extended to include the playground (the new playground on Fairfield is now open).

"Construction work should start next month - just waiting on the discharge of the pre-commencement planning conditions."

The new leisure centre is expected to open in Spring 2027, and Pellikaan, in conjunction with the council, will be providing regular updates on its progress.

Cllr Wehring told Kingston Nub News: ""It's with much excitement that the works on the new leisure centre are gearing up to go right now.

"I, like many other residents, have been hugely frustrated at how long this project has taken to get to this point, so I'm so happy that things are getting underway on the ground.

"I'd like to thank Kingston's residents for their patience and support as we've been working so hard to navigate this through multiple challenges, and I can't wait to use the new leisure centre in 2027."

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Kingston Council approved plans for the centre, which shut in 2019 and was demolished in 2022 , in February this year.

CGI of the planned new leisure centre in Kingston (Credit: Roberts Limbrick/Kingston Council, provided in Kingston Council documents)

The approved design will create the range of activities that Kingston's communities said they wanted to see, in a sustainably designed building that will be home to a 25m x 8 lane swimming pool, a training and teaching pool, a new health suite, gym, cycling and activity studios, sports hall, squash courts, soft play area and cafe.