Mayor of Hackney says Britannia Leisure Centre must be rebuilt to secure its future
A computer generated image of what the new Britannia Lesiure centre site development could look like. - Credit: Archant
The Mayor of Hackney believes the Britannia Leisure Centre will soon become unfit for purpose unless it is knocked down with a new “state-of-the-art” facility built in its place.
Mayor of Hackney Phillip Glanville. (Photo: Adrian Pope) - Credit: digital-photo.co.uk
The Mayor of Hackney believes the Britannia Leisure Centre will soon become unfit for purpose unless it is knocked down with a new “state-of-the-art” facility built in its place.
A consultation was launched yesterday by Hackney Council to gauge opinion on plans to build a new leisure centre, secondary school and housing development in Shoreditch Park.
The council say refurbishing the leisure centre – built in two stages in the 1970s and 1980s – would cost £14m and require it to be closed for up to two years.
Mayor of Hackney Phillip Glanville said: “We know that many residents really value the Britannia and its family friendly facilities, but it’s approaching the end of its life.
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“It is costing too much money to operate and maintain, even after recent investment.
“We considered refurbishing the centre, but it would mean the centre would have to close for a significant amount of time.
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“Our thinking is that it would be better to build a brand new, state-of-the-art leisure centre by Shoreditch Park.”
Funds for the development – which have not been forthcoming from central government according to the council – will be raised by the sale of housing built on the site. The council is seeking to build between 400 and 480 housing units, with up to 80 affordable homes included.
The Shoreditch Park secondary school will be taken on by the City of London Academy Trust which had plans for a temporary school in Haggerston Park approved in November.
The new academy would have six classes in each year group, taking 180 students in its first year and eventually offering 900 school places.
Children’s services boss, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble said: “We need to ensure that there are enough school places available for our children across the borough.”
The council also said it has no plans to close Shoreditch Park Primary School and believe it will thrive next to a new secondary school.
To complete the consultation – which runs until February 12 – online at consultation.hackney.gov.uk.
