PLANS for a new £40 million community leisure centre in Kingston have now been formally submitted to the Council for approval.

The leisure complex by Kingston's Fairfield recreation ground will have a variety of facilities including a toddler pool, clip and climb and improved outdoor play area.

It will replace the Kingfisher centre which closed in 2019 due to problems with the roof, leading to fears over the building's safety.

The new leisure facility will also cost over £40 million - eight times more than the £5 million the Liberal-Democrat led Council say would be needed to repair the Kingfisher building.

Plans for the facility have divided opinion in the borough, however, with almost 4,000 people signing a petition to stop the bulldozing of the Kingfisher leisure centre.

Councillor Jon Tolley also quit the Kingston Lib-Dems over the local party's backing of a replacement for the leisure centre, which he said was over-budget and with an unachievable timescale.

But Kingston Council say that repairing the Kingfisher would be "short-sighted" due to the 38-year-old building's age and condition which it says could lead to closure or spiralling repair costs in a few years' time.

A Council-run survey on the plans also found that the 75% of the 1,500 residents who responded agreed that the new centre had the right mix of facilities.

The Council's Place Committee last week voted to commit to providing the new leisure complex, though four out of the twelve councillors voting abstained, including Councillor Tolley.

Their decision is subject to planning permission and financing being confirmed at a budget meeting next month (1 March).

Following the news, Kingston Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Andreas Kirsch said: "I'm incredibly proud that we have reached such a significant point in our Transform Kingston programme and our journey towards this fantastic new leisure facility.

"The submission of the planning application is a huge step forward in delivering the scheme.

"We had more than 7,000 responses to our 3 phases of engagement on the proposals and I want to thank all of you who shared your views. Your valuable and insightful feedback has helped shape the final designs.

"We are working with leading architects FaulknerBrowns to deliver a truly inclusive space, accessible for all, environmentally sustainable, and family and disabled friendly. It will also celebrate our borough's rich heritage and history. The new complex will help revitalise our town centre, making it a prime place to visit for culture, entertainment and leisure as well as shopping."

The planning application for the leisure centre will go live on the Council's planning portal in the next few weeks and is expected to come to Planning Committee this autumn.

Read more about the project HERE