The new £25million community and leisure centre in Houghton Regis has reached its next step. Planning approval has been given and construction is planned to start in the Autumn.

The project benefits from a £20million Government Levelling Up Fund grant and will offer residents a range of new, exciting and modern sports facilities and community amenities within the Kingsland Campus.

The new two-storey community and leisure hub will include

•  a 25 metre eight-lane main pool, which is more than double the size of the existing Houghton Regis Leisure Centre pool
• a learner pool with a movable floor to raise or lower the depth for swimming lessons and classes
• separate shallow pool for very young children
• a substantial fitness suite, with twice the number of fitness stations than at the existing centre
• a dedicated spinning bikes studio
• multi-use exercise studios which provide dedicated spaces for a variety of classes and other activities
• two squash courts
•      Creche

To complement the sports facilities, the building has a spacious foyer and reception area, with a large café open for centre users and the public, community spaces, a creche and Changing Places facilities for disabled visitors.

Outside there will be a children’s play area available for visitors and the community, and a fitness trail is set amongst the landscaped areas which surround the centre.

A large 238 space car park will include electric vehicle charging points, motorcycle parking, accessible parking bays and cycle parking. Improved walking and cycling routes will connect the building to other parts of the Kingsland Campus and the local community.

The new centre will be sited near to the new Houstone School, and a Community Use Agreement will mean the school’s first-class sports facilities will also be available for the community to use. School facilities will include a new sports hall as well as a range of outdoor grass pitches and a 3G artificial floodlit pitch.

Cllr Tracey Stock, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing and Communities, said: “This is a key milestone for a major project which will see a new £25million community and leisure centre offering exciting, modern sports provision for Houghton Regis.

“The new centre will complement the wider plans helping to transform the area and will provide residents with an asset they can use and enjoy.”

“We are committed to providing residents across Central Bedfordshire with the best possible leisure facilities as we know the vital role, they play in encouraging people to benefit from a healthier lifestyle.”

Construction is expected to start in autumn 2022 and the new centre will be open in 2024.

The existing Houghton Regis Leisure Centre will remain open until the new centre is complete to ensure residents have continuous access to leisure provision.

Further information is available at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/kingsland