New Trowbridge leisure centre - people invited to meet the team and see the plans

Wiltshire Council continues to develop its plans to build a new leisure centre for Trowbridge and there will be a number of engagement opportunities in the coming weeks for people to hear more about the project.

As confirmed last year, the council plans to build a new state-of-the-art leisure centre in the heart of Trowbridge town centre. The council's East Wing site, located across the road from County Hall, has been identified as the preferred location for the facility.

The proposed site was identified as the most favourable option as it:

• is centrally located
• has residential areas that are within reasonable walking and cycling distance
• has good public transport links
• provides the opportunity for multi-purpose trips, which will support the town centre
• is a site that Wiltshire Council already owns
• means the existing facilities can remain operational during the construction of the new facility

As previously confirmed, it is proposed that the new facility will contain the following:

• A six-lane, 25m swimming pool
• 7m x 13m learner pool
• Gym with 120 exercise stations
• Two studios
• Immersive spin studio
• Community meeting room
• Café
• Adventure play - providing activities for young people
• Live well suite - providing a dedicated space for older people to exercise

Through the UK Leisure Framework the council appointed a specialist project team, led by development partners Alliance Leisure. The project team has been developing designs for the facility. Internal layouts, external designs and landscaping schemes have all been produced. The team have also undertaken site surveys, a transport assessment, and a sustainability review.

An engagement survey and events will launch later this month (June). The aim of these is to inform residents and businesses of the proposed Trowbridge Leisure Centre plans and to get feedback on the plans, prior to a formal planning application being submitted. All users and non-users of the existing leisure facilities are encouraged to take part and share their thoughts.

If people would like to share their views, they are encouraged to complete the survey, which will be available from 24 June 2024 at the Trowbridge Leisure Centre Development Project (opens new window).

Along with the survey, there will be engagement meetings to discuss these plans with members from the project team. These drop-in sessions will give people the opportunity to meet the team and to share their feedback as well as hear more about the exciting plans proposed for the new leisure centre.

Residents who have any specific needs or requirements such as access or hearing loops please contact trowbridgeleisureproject@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) prior to attending.

Once the engagement period is completed, the project team will review the comments and feedback received and this will inform the formal planning submission to ensure the new facility meets the needs of the local area and communities. Subject to planning permission, it is expected that construction of the new centre will commence in 2025.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Health, said: We're pleased to be at the stage of the new Trowbridge leisure centre project where we can share more details with the public and get their feedback, which will help inform our design formal planning application.

This type of due diligence is vital to a project of this scale, and we invite local people to take part in our survey or pop along to one of our events to meet the team and see the plans. We want this to be a centre for all ages that will not only be a facility that the local community can be proud of, but to play a vital part in the economic future of our county town.