Gurnell Leisure Centre may be getting a huge makeover which will include a new, Olympic-sized swimming pool; much needed affordable housing; and relocating the popular skatepark and BMX track.
The proposed changes to the Ruislip Road East centre would cost an estimated £37million and form part of Ealing Council’s sports investment programme which, in total, is worth more than £65million. You can read an article on the programme in the summer 2016 edition of Around Ealing, and also soon on Ealing News Extra.
Under the council’s plans, Gurnell’s new building would be more flexible than its current one and able to be used in several different ways; it would also be energy-efficient.
It would offer sport and leisure amenities fit for professional training.
Building on the successes of the current Ealing Swim Club, the new centre would include a 10-lane, 50-metre pool suitable for training, competition, lessons and fun alike. The idea is to have moveable floors to provide more options in terms of what the pool can do.
The new centre could also include:
- A fun/leisure pool
- Pool viewing areas
- Larger fitness gym
- Two large studios/activity spaces
- Spin bike studio
- Sauna and steam rooms
- Children’s soft play areas and party rooms
- Wet and dry changing facilities including separate family changing
- And a café.
In the surrounding grounds there would also be a new playground; and the existing skate park and BMX track would be moved and improved.
There is also an element of housing development proposed for the site, to increase the amount of homes available in the borough while funding a significant proportion of the leisure centre project.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “This will be a really exciting new development for Gurnell. The investments being made are going to massively improve sporting opportunities for local people as well as bring essential additional housing to the borough.
“We are hosting some public meetings over the next few months to share more details of the plans for Gurnell as they develop, so please do join us so you can see them and share your thoughts.”
The existing centre is likely to close in spring 2017, subject to planning approval, and its replacement would then be anticipated to open in spring 2019.
