Building a leisure centre to replace a facility saddled with collapse-risk concrete will be “exceptionally expensive” a councillor in the East Midlands has warned.
Adrian Chapman, executive director of place and economy at Peterborough City Council, said work was underway to create a new swimming venue.
The Regional Fitness and Swimming Centre on Bishop’s Road has been closed since 2023 after asbestos and then reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) were found to be present.
Last year the cost to bring the site up to standard was estimated at more than £26m, compared with about £30m for a new facility, which the council said could be open by 2028.
Chapman told a joint meeting of the local authority’s scrutiny committees last week that un update was imminent.
“Officers have been working really hard on a very detailed proposal to bring a new regional pool facility to the city,” he said.
“It is exceptionally expensive. The model we are working on, the expectation is for there to be no requirement for council investment, save for the land. We think there is a commercial model that would fund a pool to the specification we would seek. This will come forward into the public domain in the not too distant future.”
The council’s cabinet was last year asked to support the permanent closure of the Regional Fitness and Swimming Centre and plans for a new leisure facility.
This was expected to include an eight-lane, 25 metre pool along with a teaching pool, a splash pool, a cafe, a sports hall, studio spaces, a large gym, clip and climb facilities and soft play and family area.
Councillor Mohammed Jamil, cabinet member for Peterborough City Council, said this week: “A soft strip-out of the building is currently underway, which will see the removal of non-structural elements on site in readiness for a full demolition of the building, which is due to start in spring.”
Willmott Dixon is the demolition contractor under a £1.9m contract awarded last month, according to data intelligence provider Glenigan.
“The car park at the regional pool site will remain in use until the week starting 17 March. Car parking will then be available at other nearby council car parks until further notice, including Bishop’s Road, which will open as usual,” Jamil said.
“The future of the site and plans for a new leisure centre are currently being explored in conjunction with developers.”
