Waverley Borough Council is pleased to announce that planning approval has been granted for a new, super energy efficient leisure centre in Cranleigh, Surrey.
With planning permission secured, the next step for the council is to appoint a main contractor for the project. Construction is set to commence in autumn 2025, with the new leisure centre expected to open in spring 2027.
Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development at Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Liz Townsend said: "This new leisure centre will be a significant and much-needed improvement to the area. It’s a fantastic investment in the health and wellbeing of our residents. We have worked very hard to deliver within our budget and create a sustainable and modern facility that meets the needs of our growing community, and I’m very excited to see it finally come to life."
The existing leisure centre, now over 55 years old, has exceeded its life expectancy and will be demolished once the new one is built. The new leisure centre will be super energy efficient, use 60% less energy per square metre than the old building, and the council is expecting a 75% reduction in annual operational carbon emissions.
The new leisure centre will offer:
The final designs have been shaped by extensive community input, with over 800 responses to an online survey and more than 200 people attending two public engagement sessions last year. GT3 Architects is the Lead Designer.
Matt McCreith, Senior Architect at GT3 commented,
“We’re incredibly excited to achieve this important milestone. Cranleigh Leisure Centre will be a leading example of a new wave of sustainable leisure and, if certification is successful, is expected to be only the fourth leisure centre in the UK to achieve Passivhaus accreditation.
Leisure centres are traditionally energy hungry buildings. By incorporating Passivhaus standards into this proposal we have dramatically lowered the energy demand of the new building. Beyond the energy savings, there are several people-focused benefits, including improved internal air quality and the latest microfiltration technology in the pools to help create better swimming environments.
“From a design perspective, our team has taken the village location into careful consideration. We wanted to propose a design that is sensitive to the surroundings whilst also adding a new highlight to the rich heritage of the area. Picking up on the varied roofscape and the detailed facades along the high streets, the new design blends these together to form a beautiful response. Waverley Borough Council has shown the enthusiasm and boldness required to deliver this important scheme and we are looking forward to progressing further with them."
The council has also collaborated with the operator Everyone Active from the start to create the best possible solutions for the leisure centre users.
David Love, area contract manager for Everyone Active, said: “We’re incredibly excited to see the plans develop for this brand new, state-of-the-art, Cranleigh Leisure Centre and look forward to working with Waverley Borough Council to bring their vision to life.
“Everyone Active has a strong focus on promoting inclusivity and encouraging everyone to participate in regular physical activity. We believe the new centre will offer a wide range of opportunities to drive health and wellbeing within the local community.”
Once a contractor has been appointed, neighbouring properties will receive further details about the construction programme and activities, including any temporary impacts. Regular updates will be provided to ensure transparency, and the council will continue working closely with the community to ensure a successful and sustainable outcome.
The Planning Committee unanimously approved the planning application for Cranleigh Leisure Centre, subject to conditions and a unilateral undertaking to secure a contribution of £40,000 for improvements to the walking and cycling route between the site and the Downs Link Bridleway.
Find out more about the project on our project information site, including project background, designs, FAQ and timeline: www.waverley.gov.uk/clcnewbuild
Image: visual from GT3 Architects - West Elevation, the new building