Work underway on £10m Surrey leisure centre

After many months of planning, work has begun on a new multi-million pound leisure community and youth skills centre in Preston, Surrey.

Pellikaan Construction will be bringing the plans from S&P Architects to life, with work starting on 23 June and expected to finish in late summer 2015.

The £10m centre is a joint venture between Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Surrey County Council and is to be operated by GLL. It will feature a 25m (82ft) six-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, a 60-station gym, plus a dance and exercise studio.

On the sports side, the centre will boast a four-court sports hall, four five-a-side football pitches, as well as space for community activities, a café, crèche, and a neighbouring youth skills centre.

The new facilities will be built off Merland Rise, on part of the recreation ground and Banstead Athletic FC’s former training pitch.

An existing community site – Banstead Leisure Centre – will remain open until the new centre is complete and is currently scheduled for demolition in autumn 2015. The site is being sold to Croudace Homes to be redeveloped for housing, with part of the land sale money being used to fund the new facilities. Once this site closes, current operator GLL will assume control of the new site.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council leisure and wellbeing councillor Ros Mill said: “The new centre will provide fantastic, modern facilities for residents in Preston and the surrounding area, improving opportunities to stay fit and healthy.”