PLANS for a £16 million redevelopment of Great Sankey Leisure Centre have been revealed.

LiveWire has submitted a planning application to create a neighbourhood hub on the site of Great Sankey Leisure Centre, which will be demolished and the swimming pool and sports hall refurbished.

New tennis courts, studios and a 3G pitch will also be added to the site as part of the redevelopment.

If the application is approved the centre will be transformed into one which will combine health, wellbeing, sport, fitness and cultural facilities provided by LiveWire, Warrington Borough Council, Culture Warrington, the NHS, Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group and Health Plus.

Jan Souness, managing director of LiveWire, said: “We are tremendously proud to be submitting a planning application to build the new Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub.

“It will be LiveWire’s first dementia-friendly building and it is particularly catered for the needs of this part of Warrington. It ties in so much with our vision to have an active town that feels able and supported to look after their own health and to enjoy all the facilities that we can offer them.”

Warrington Guardian:

A concept aerial shot of what the new hub will look like

LiveWire hopes that the improvements at the centre will help cope with the ‘dementia timebomb’ which is facing residents and services in the west of Warrington.

Dan Price, Labour councillor for Great Sankey North and a member of LiveWire Board, added: “This is fantastic news and it is something that me and my fellow Labour councillors have long been lobbying for.

“The west of Warrington needs first class holistic leisure facilities for people of all ages and thanks to LiveWire it will also be much more affordable than private gyms.”

The plan is to have GPs stationed at the hub – close to the former doctor’s surgery which was abandoned last year – along with a pharmacy, business zone, 120-station fitness suite, library and cafe. There are even plans for a spa and facilities to promote well-being in the third phase of the build.

Cllr Kate Hannon, executive member, leisure, community and culture, said: “This will be a fantastic facility for Warrington to be proud of.

“It is the product of a concerted multi-agency approach to working and has had the enthusiastic input and support of Warrington West residents.

“The wellbeing of residents is a core priority within Warrington Borough Council’s strategy, ‘Growing a Stronger Warrington’ and this exciting new project will help us meet that objective.”

Warrington Guardian:

An artist's impression of the new entrance

MORE than 700 residents responded to a consultation on the project, according to LiveWire.

Residents’ suggestions have helped to shape the features and facilities within the hub, with more than 60 suggestions resulting from the consultation incorporated into the design.

Plans were approved for the 3G pitch last week and staff at LiveWire say they will try to keep disruption to residents and Great Sankey High School to a minimum when work is carried out in the summer holidays.

If the planning application for the first phase is approved on August 6 then work will begin on a new access road from Lingley Green Avenue and a new car park will be added to minimise disruption to residents during the build, which is expected to be completed by August 2016.

Jan Souness, managing director of LiveWire, said: “There will be some disruption, we couldn’t do something like this without it but we hope it will provide a solution to some long-running problems.

“This has been the product of much hard work by the agencies involved and the enthusiasm of the public shown during our extensive consultation exercise.

“Thank you to those who participated in the consultation. The input has shaped the scheme and many ideas offered have been incorporated.”

THE creation of Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub will be split into three phases.

LiveWire will build around the existing centre to make sure that facilities are kept open for residents and for use by Great Sankey High School during the work.

The phases will work like this:

  • The submitted planning application is for the first phase which will include building new changing rooms, a new entrance and a fitness suite above it around the existing centre.
  • Phase two will include new studios, refurbishing the sports hall and swimming pool and demolishing the current centre.
  • Plans are also being looked at to transform the historical Barrow Old Moat Hall and include a trim or heritage trial while members of Groundwork will map the location of the old hall and points of interest will be highlighted.
  • The third phase could see a spa built which will allow residents to treat themselves to eight different relaxing treatments including, reflexology, foot baths, hydrotherapy, aromatic massage, sauna and steam.