Trafford Council has given the go-ahead for a new £22m leisure centre in Altrincham.
At a meeting last night, the recommendation for a new leisure centre in Altrincham was approved by the Executive.
We reported last week how the current leisure centre on Oakfield Road has been judged to be in such a poor condition that it was having a material impact on users.
A new £10m leisure centre was initially included in the Altair redevelopment plans but after realising that it would cost considerably more than expected – and while Altair’s plans suffer further delays – Trafford Council has decided to take it out of the scheme and develop the centre itself.
The process of finding a contractor and drawing up designs for the new centre will now take place in the first half of next year.
According to an investment report prepared in support of Trafford’s plans to overhaul leisure services in the borough generally, the new facility will replace the old leisure centre and include a 25-metre pool, a 25-metre leisure pool with a moveable floor, and a car park for 300 cars.
The new fitness area will have 100 stations, twice as many as the existing gym, and a wellness facility.
There will also be a sports hall with six courts, flexible space, a purpose-built gymnastics and trampoline hub, squash courts and a party room.
The new centre should be completed and operating by February 2022, with an estimated construction cost of £22.4m.
The estimated construction costs involve borrowing £18.3m – an amount expected to be paid back through future use of the facilities by customers.
Trafford has one of the biggest swimming programmes in the country that is enjoyed by many young school children from an early age.
