August 5, 2014 3.04 pm This story is over 115 months old

Yarborough Leisure Centre £1m revamp plans approved

Leisure centre investment: Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln will receive a £1 million redevelopment to improve facilities.
Yarborough Leisure centre in Lincoln.

Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln will receive a £1 million redevelopment after the City of Lincoln Council approved plans and extended their management partnership until 2025.

The leisure centre, managed by the Active Nation charity on behalf of the council, will be given a new double floor gym in the current space of squash courts, a complete reception and foyer refurbishment, new dry changing rooms and improvements to the wet change area.

There will also be new sauna and steam cabins and a new swimming pool roof.

The studio will also be turned into a state-of-the-art dedicated cycling studio, while the gym will become a new large exercise class studio capable of more than doubling the current capacity.

Work on the redevelopment is expected to begin in September and be completed by January 2015.

To cause as little disruption as possible the gym will remain open as normal during this time and other projects throughout the venue will be phased over the coming months.

As previously reported, initial proposals outlined an expansion of the gym space and downsizing of the pool.

This was met with objection from the Lincoln Diving Club, who would have been forced to dissolve, and plans were taken back to the drawing board in March 2014.

The new plans will not change the pool facilities or layout.

Photo: Yarborough Leisure Centre

Photo: Yarborough Leisure Centre

As part of the investment by the city council, the partnership with Active Nation has also been extended. The charity will continue to manage the venue until 2025.

John Latham, the Council’s Director of Development and Environmental Services, said: “The city council is delighted that it has been able to agree an extension to our agreement with Active Nation and thus make this huge investment worthwhile.

“We know Yarborough Leisure Centre is visited by around 600,000 visitors each year and provides affordable access to leisure for residents across Lincoln.

“By investing this money the council will be able to ensure that the centre is fit for purpose for the next 10 years and beyond.

“The council has been able to make this capital investment because we have agreed very significant savings in our management fee payable to Active Nation – savings that over the next 10 years will be worth more than 4 times the capital being invested.

“This deal is excellent value for the taxpayers of Lincoln and represents a real boost for leisure in Lincoln.”

Active Nation’s Contract Manager for Lincoln, Stuart Blackbourn, said: “Over recent years Yarborough Leisure Centre has already seen a significant amount of investment, but this further stage will help to ensure that we can continue to provide excellent service and facilities for the local community as demand for using the venue continues to grow.”