We have plans for a new state-of-the-art leisure and cultural hub in Farnborough town centre.
Community events
Thanks to everyone who came along to our open events on Wednesday 22 November to find out more about our proposals for the new leisure and cultural hub. It was lovely to meet you and to talk to you about the things that you would like to see at the new hub. You can see our Farnborough leisure and cultural hub presentation from the evening.
There will be lots more opportunities to get involved and we are planning to hold a similar event early next year when we submit a planning application for the development. We'd also like to involve local people as we regenerate the wider civic quarter to create a new heart for the town centre.
If you would like to be kept informed about our proposals and how you can get involved, please let us know.
Proposals for the new leisure and cultural hub
Our Cabinet unanimously agreed at a special meeting on Tuesday 3 October to proposals that will drive forward the delivery of the new leisure centre and cultural hub.
The major redevelopment project will include:
- A new leisure centre, which will offer an eight-lane swimming pool, intermediate pool with moveable floor, six-court sports hall, fitness and spin studios, and soft play, together with a large café and space for performance
- A cultural hub, which will include space for an art gallery, digital lab, collaboration space and studios
- A new skate park and destination play area
In addition, the development will provide accommodation for the council offices and voluntary sector, and potentially a new library and associated community space, along with parking.
Next steps
The next stage will be to prepare detailed designs for the development, ready to submit a planning application in early 2024.
The Cabinet also agreed the funding strategy required for the £68 million scheme and a timetable that will see the new hub open in early 2027.
The council will be going out to the market for a contractor ready to run the new leisure centre and Aldershot Pools complex.
The decision follows the awarding of £20 million towards the new leisure and cultural hub from the government's Levelling Up Fund in January.
Wider civic quarter site
The proposals for the new hub formed part of an outline planning application that the Rushmoor Development Partnership submitted as a masterplan for the wider civic quarter site. Our Development Management Committee granted outline consent for the scheme in February.
You can read more about the outline planning application and full details of the bid on our civic quarter page.
This follows Cabinet approval in summer 2021 for the release of £1.1 million of funding to allow us to move ahead with our plans.
Alternative local leisure facilities
You will find details about alternative local leisure facilities on our Leisure facilities pages and about our Aldershot Pools and Fitness Centre, Farnham Leisure Centre and Places Leisure Camberley on the Places Leisure website.
