Plans progress for new leisure centre
Plans are moving forward to develop a new leisure centre to serve communities in the east of Daventry District.
Daventry District Council (DDC) and Moulton College have agreed that DDC will buy the Chris Moody Centre, an existing sports facility on the College’s campus and convert it into a public leisure centre. Providing a new leisure and sports facilities for residents and community use in the eastern part of the District is a priority for the Council, which plans to use developer contributions to fund the project.
The new centre would include a swimming pool, state of the art fitness suite and multi-purpose rooms for classes, functions and group cycling. Local schools and clubs currently using the facilities at Moulton would continue to be able to do so under the Council’s proposals.
DDC will be applying for planning permission for the changes, with it being planned that work would begin on the new leisure centre in early 2020.
Councillor Alan Hills, DDC’s Community Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder, said: ““We are pleased to be working with Moulton College to achieve our vision for the new leisure centre.
“It will be an important hub for sport and leisure activity across the east of our District, helping to meet the need for more local amenities in the light of major future housing growth in the area.”
Corrie Harris, Principal of Moulton College said: “We are delighted to be able to engage with the local and regional community and contribute positively to the council’s investment strategy. The centre will be a superb leisure facility that will be enjoyed by many for years to come.
“The current facility is not central to the college’s educational offer and its conversion into a public leisure centre will widen its use among the community by local people, schools and clubs.”
Plans for a new leisure centre in the eastern part of Daventry District were identified as the top priority within the Council’s Sports Facilities Investment Strategy, which was adopted in February this year following public consultation.
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