Member Article

Plans unveiled for new £15m Greater Manchester sports centre

Exciting plans for a new £15 million leisure facility providing an Olympic legacy for Greater Manchester have been unveiled.

Oldham Council today released artist’s impressions of the state-of-the-art flagship Oldham Sports Centre, which will replace the existing facility in 2015.

Proposals that will be the basis for a forthcoming planning application for the development in Oldham town centre, at the junction of Manchester Street and St Domingo Street, have been developed with delivery partner Willmott Dixon.

Oldham would be able to hold regional and televised competitions like never before with these enhanced facilities and the new centre’s opening will put the town on the national sporting map.

The facility would host:

• A 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool of county-level competition standard;
• A separate learner pool;
• Spectator seating gallery to the main pool, providing 250 seats;
• 150-competitor seats at pool side;
• Sauna and steam room;
• Wet changing village;
• Eight-court sports hall including flexible seating for 250 spectators;
• 80-station fitness studio;
• Spinning studio;
• Two group exercise studios;
• Separate changing facilities for dry sports and fitness suite;
• Four-rink indoor bowls hall;
• Cafeteria;
• Improved landscaping and public realm works;
• 122-space car park.

A planning application is due to be submitted for the latest design proposals of the leisure centre in early February 2014.

The current Oldham Sports Centre will not close until the new facility is complete – set to be Autumn 2015 – to ensure there is no break in service.

Since the new centre was approved in March 2012, officers have been busy finalising a range of facilities that can ensure a lasting Olympic legacy.

Councillor Jim McMahon, Oldham Council leader, said: “Providing an Olympic legacy for our residents is a big priority for Oldham Council. It is about raising the aspirations of Oldham residents and improving their facilities as well.

“These fantastic first images of the new leisure centre show our commitment to providing residents with a flagship state-of the-art facility.

“The new Oldham facility would have the correct specifications to attract major regional competitions in some sports. It would also be able to host much larger events than ever before, like Sky Sports boxing, and put us on the national sporting map.

“The swimming pool would also be a major improvement on what we already have, bringing us up to county standard, with enhanced spectator facilities.

“We have been working closely with Willmott Dixon and OCL, plus national sporting governing bodies of sport and specialist leisure consultants, to get to this exciting stage.

“This is yet another milestone and example of how Oldham Council is being proactive and regenerating our borough – despite our financial challenges.”

Draft designs for the new facility were submitted to an independent Places Matter Design Review Panel who made a series of recommendations. Their suggestions have been reflected in the final designs.

Public displays of the proposals will be on show at the Civic Centre and Oldham Sports Centre’s main reception from today (Wednesday, January 29) until the end of February.

Drop-in events and meetings with local user groups where Oldham Council, Willmott Dixon Construction and the designers will be on hand to answer questions are being arranged for the near future.

The council also revealed architect’s images of the proposed £8million new Royton leisure facility to the public last week.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .