Mayoral intervention sees work resume on £14m leisure centre in Stockton

Work on a multi-million pound leisure centre at All Saints Academy in Ingleby Barwick has picked up again after facing ‘unnecessary barriers’ earlier this year.

The future of the £14m development was thrown into doubt in June, when the Department for Education (DfE) refused to sign off the final transfer of land from the school to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

According to Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, DfE officials with “little understanding of the situation” slowed the project down with “unnecessary barriers” to its progress.

Mr Houchen personally intervened in a meeting with Education Minister Lord Agnew, where he made the case for the new centre and outlined its importance to the Stockton community.

The move led to an agreement between the council, the DfE and the local church diocese to resume work on the project and complete the land ownership transfer.

The facility, now due to open in Summer 2019, will deliver a leisure centre on the grounds of All Saints on Myton Road.

The leisure centre will feature a swimming pool, gym, exercise studios, café, library, customer service point and pedestrian plaza.

Mayor Houchen said: “It was touch and go, but pleased to have got this exciting project back on track. Stockton Borough Council, All Saints Academy, Government and the diocese can all be proud of how they have all worked together to deliver an excellent facility for the people of Ingleby Barwick.

“I grew up in Ingleby and my parents still live there, so I know just how much this new facility will mean to people.”

He continued: “We have waited for years for just such a centre on our doorstep, which will make a big difference to people who currently have to travel elsewhere to access leisure centres, and especially those who can’t easily travel so far.”