Kingston to expect big changes in 2025
Kingston is expecting big changes in 2025, including progress in long-delayed plans to replace its leisure centre, the regeneration of its town centre and the revival of the Ancient Market.
Kingston Council is set to press ahead with major plans over the coming year, which will shape the borough's future, and is due to decide on plans to expand Chessington World of Adventures.
The council has also approved many planning applications this year, which will see new homes built across the borough.
This includes proposals from developer GM London to demolish empty office buildings for 34 new flats in a five-storey block by the River Thames in the town centre.
We have listed below some of the major developments expected in Kingston in 2025.
Kingfisher Leisure Centre replacement
The council aims to start building the replacement of the Kingfisher Leisure Centre in spring 2025, to open it in spring 2027, after submitting revised plans this year.
The Kingfisher shut in 2019 and was demolished in 2022 after it was decided repairs to fix the roof would cost more than £5million.
The council previously said a replacement leisure centre would be built on the same site by late 2024.
But it scrapped the original designs last year after a tendering process to appoint a contractor for the project returned a figure of £79.5m – much higher than its approved budget of £44.5m.
The council has now submitted a formal planning application with 'more modest' designs for the leisure centre which, if approved, would be two storeys tall.
It would have an eight-lane swimming pool with seating for 150 spectators, a teaching pool, four-court sports hall, two squash courts, changing facilities, showers, a gym, group cycling studio and three activity studios.
A health suite with a sauna, steam room and relaxation area is included in the plans, along with a café for 100 customers, public plaza, soft play area and an upgraded play area in Fairfield East.
The leisure centre would be 'car free' except for two disabled parking bays, while it would have 72 cycle parking spaces. The council would also plant 56 trees on the site.
Kingston town centre regeneration
The council will press ahead with its plans to regenerate Kingston town centre in 2025, kickstarted by the transformation of the memorial gardens which date back 200 years.
It recently approved its scheme for Memorial Gardens, in Kingston, which will see it revamped with new paths, trees, benches and play equipment.
The scheme will see benches and plants installed around the garden's Grade II* World War I memorial to create the impression of a square, while more plants will be added around the gravestones to better protect them.
The Anne Frank and Holocaust memorial trees will be kept and improved with fresh plants, and their plaques will be cleaned and remounted.
Different walking routes will be created through the garden to improve connectivity to the town centre, including adding two new openings into Cloisters Mall.
More benches will be added in sunny and shaded areas, along with play equipment for children, including hollow logs and a living willow pod, and new bins.
The plans form part of a pipeline of projects being brought forward by the authority to improve Kingston's riverside and town centre.
A council report said: "Memorial Gardens is the first of a series of public realm projects coming forward in the near future.
"The riverside and town centre is undergoing transformation to improve active travel means, accessibility, inclusivity, cultural offer and increased biodiversity."
Kingston Ancient Market revival
A new company will take over the operation, management and maintenance of Kingston Ancient Market from Kingston First in April, as part of the council's plans to transform it.
The authority agreed plans this year to revive the market, which originally opened around 1170, after putting forward a 'growing case for modernisation and change' in the way it operates.
It approved a new Ancient Market Place strategy, which aims to deliver a 'revived market destination for London and the South East' by 2028 with an 'expanded and diversified' market attracting more shoppers – including the introduction of more events, regular pop-up stalls with greater variety, evening trading and reopening the Ancient Market House as it has been mostly empty for the last few years.
As part of this, the council is bringing together the market, market square and Ancient Market House under a longer-term lease held by a new operator to allow a 'longer-term partnership approach'.
The authority approved the preferred operator to run the market, who has not yet been named, in November.
A council report said the chosen bidder's proposals would make the market into an 'attraction in its own right' and upgrade its facilities, including the Market House.
It added: "The preferred bidder's submission… outlines a compelling vision for a revitalised market built around a reshaped version of the current offer but with much greater flexibility to grow at weekends and seasonal events."
Chessington World of Adventures development
The council is expected to make decisions on major plans to develop Chessington World of Adventures in 2025.
Owner Merlin Entertainments has submitted planning applications to build a new waterpark and another themed land at the popular resort.
The waterpark, if approved, would have themed water slides, wave, infinity and spa pools, lazy and rapid rivers, an aqua play area, splash pad, safari 'beach', cabanas, a snack bar and café.
The resort's safari hotel would be expanded to build the facility, in a bid to rival the likes of Disney and Universal Studios.
The new themed land would replace Wild Asia, which has some of the resort's oldest rides and buildings, and a neighbouring glamping site.
It would have an indoor and outdoor rollercoaster, indoor immersive children's ride, themed play areas and sensory environments to attract families with children aged six to 12.
The land would also have new food and drink outlets with themed menus, a courtyard and shop selling exclusive merchandise.
Only one existing ride, known as Kobra, would be kept and rethemed for the attraction.
Planning documents submitted to Kingston Council warned visitor numbers will drop at Chessington without investment and the schemes are critical to its future.
They said the resort must improve its attractions to continue drawing in guests as it deals with the impact of Covid-19 and ongoing economic uncertainties.
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