Plan for UK's most sustainable leisure centre

Plans have been submitted for a new leisure centre for Staines which aims to be a UK first for sustainability.

Spelthorne Borough Council has submitted a proposal to its planning department to redevelop the 1.8-hectare site of the existing Spelthorne Leisure Centre at Knowle Green.

The scheme will be the first in the UK designed and built to fully meet the ultra-low energy Passivhaus standard of environmental sustainability.

It will include:

A 25-metre eight lane swimming pool with spectator seating
A 20-metre by 10-metre learner pool and splash pad
A sauna and steam room
Two group changing rooms, four family changing rooms and post & pre swim showers
A six-court sports hall, three squash courts, one with movable walls to create two badminton courts
A 200-station fitness suite
A spin studio
Bike storage and 300-space car park
Roof top 3G football pitches

The new building will be in the grounds of the existing centre so it can operate while the new one is built. Subject to planning, construction could start as early as this Summer.

Public consultation by the council revealed strong support, both for the location and the facilities.

Cllr Rose Chandler, portfolio holder for leisure, said: “This is an important step in providing a state-of-the-art leisure centre for our residents.

“We recognise the importance of exercise for residents’ physical and mental wellbeing and how vital our leisure services are.

“This council is determined to become a carbon neutral council and our commitment to this is proven by designing it to fully meet the ultra-low energy Passivhaus standard.”

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