October 24, 2013 11.16 am This story is over 124 months old

Big plans for £2.5m North Kesteven Sports Centre revamp

Improving facilities: NK Sports Centre is one of the main leisure facilities in the Lincoln area and the district council is planning to improve it.

North Kesteven District Council is set to invest £2.5 million to improve leisure activities in North Hykeham.

The sports centre is one of the two significant leisure centres in the Lincoln area partly because of it can be used by the public and schools.

However, the district council feels it needs significant investment to make needed repairs in the next five years.

The council’s Executive Board advised the Full Council to approve a project at the North Kesteven Sports Centre, starting in October 2014.

The project will see NK Sports Centre get almost £1 million on external building works, car parks, drainage and roofing as well as £200,000 inside on courts and changing rooms.

Plans also include more than £1 million on electrical and mechanical fittings such as air conditioning, water tanks, heating, pump filters and £5,000 on structural alterations.

Phased over a couple of years, schemes include café relocation to the ground floor and moving the gym to the first floor.

Synthetic turf pitches upgrades have been proposed too, as well as plans to convert the pool changing rooms to a changing village and adding extra activity studios.

The designs will be considered next spring, and submitted for planning permission in July 2014.

The council has been recommended to use the reserves in the New Homes Bonus scheme to undertake the project.

Councillor Lindsey Cawrey, Executive Board Member with responsibility for leisure services, said: “Building on what we have achieved in the refurbishment at Sleaford, we are particularly keen to be investing in the north of the District as well.

“This anticipated project is fully in line with the Council’s ongoing commitment to sports and leisure facilities across the District, which has supported a greater increase in sports participation in North Kesteven than anywhere else in the county, and now our emphasis is on upgrading the facilities we have to ensure they remain relevant, welcoming and of the highest possible standards.”

Decision will be taken on progressing the redevelopment project for the NK Centre by the Full Council on December 19.