A planning application has now been submitted for the new leisure on Fairfield Road - bringing delivery of the exciting community facility another step closer.

The proposals ask for the provision of a new leisure centre, comprising a main pool and learner pool, fitness studios, a gym, sports halls, a health suite, changing facilities, a cafe, soft play, enhancements to the existing play area, landscaping and public realm, cycle parking, blue badge car parking, access and associated works.

It also asks for listed building consent for partial removal of Kingston Museum boundary railings and wall and changes to the Kingston Museum Garden.

The proposals will create the range of activities that residents and stakeholders said they wanted to see, in an efficiently designed building that can be delivered within an affordable budget.

Accessibility and inclusivity remain key features of the project, with new pedestrian links into the town centre and a range of landscaped public spaces throughout the scheme.

Should planning permission and committee approval be granted, it is envisaged that construction of the centre will start in Spring 2025, with the target for opening the new building in Spring 2027. 

In a significant change from the previous project, construction experts Pellikaan have been brought on board much earlier in the process to give better assurances around costs and programme as the project progresses to completion.

Designed by award-winning architects Roberts Limbrick, the project continues to be overseen by Alliance Leisure, procured through the UK Leisure Framework, who have brought together the expertise needed to deliver the project, including project management from Hadron Consulting.

The final designs reflect the comments received from the community, key stakeholders, the Design Review Panel and the planning authority.

You can now view and comment on the proposals by visiting the  council's planning portal and using planning reference number 24/02624/CREG3. 

Cllr Alison Holt, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development & Leisure, said: "The submission of a planning application is a significant milestone in the delivery of a new leisure centre that meets the highest standards of quality, sustainability and accessibility.

 "We are ensuring all of the necessary processes are completed to bring the project forward as quickly as possible, and I'm excited that we are progressing swiftly towards a fantastic new facility for all in the borough to use in the coming years." 

Tom Fairey, Development Director Alliance Leisure, said: "We are delighted that this hugely significant project has now taken another large step towards being delivered for Kingston.

 "We are looking forward to continuing at pace through the final stage of pre-construction and working with our expert partners to deliver this exciting new centre that meets the needs of the borough for many years to come."