Havering's Cabinet will consider proposals to realise the Council's long-standing ambition to bring a new leisure centre, ice rink and pool to Romford town centre, at its meeting on the 15 June.
The Council has been in initial negotiations with a retail developer to fund the building of a state-of-the-art leisure centre incorporating an eight-lane, 25 metre competition swimming pool, a pool for beginners, sauna and steam rooms as well as a health and fitness studio, gym, a dance studio and a cafe and bar.
The centre would also be home to a high quality ice-rink that can be used by the public and for competitive events, including ice hockey. This would replace the existing ice rink in Rom Valley Way.
Funding for the scheme will come from the sale of the current Council-owned ice rink site at Rom Valley Way to the developer which will fund the purchase of a plot of land in the town centre owned by the developer and the majority of building costs for the leisure centre.
Providing a modern leisure centre in central Romford would address the lack of public swimming facilities in the area, as well as being a major draw for visitors to the town. It would also provide a much-needed training and competition facility for swimming clubs in Havering.
Councillor Michael White, Leader of Havering Council, said:
"This is a great opportunity for the Council to provide a really exciting, state-of-the-art leisure centre in the heart of Romford. We've been working on this project for a number of years but we haven't managed to find the right deal. Now it seems that the right deal is within reach.
"We want to make certain we get the right facility, at the least possible cost to local taxpayers - so if Cabinet approve the proposals, we'll continue to negotiate hard to secure the best result, before we sign on the dotted line.
"If we can close this deal, the new leisure centre would be a huge asset for Romford and the rest of Havering for generations to come."
If approved by Cabinet then the report will be considered by full Council and any development will be subject to planning permission. A new leisure centre would take around three years to build and the Council would look at providing alternative provision for skaters while the new ice rink was being built.
The Council has been in initial negotiations with a retail developer to fund the building of a state-of-the-art leisure centre incorporating an eight-lane, 25 metre competition swimming pool, a pool for beginners, sauna and steam rooms as well as a health and fitness studio, gym, a dance studio and a cafe and bar.
The centre would also be home to a high quality ice-rink that can be used by the public and for competitive events, including ice hockey. This would replace the existing ice rink in Rom Valley Way.
Funding for the scheme will come from the sale of the current Council-owned ice rink site at Rom Valley Way to the developer which will fund the purchase of a plot of land in the town centre owned by the developer and the majority of building costs for the leisure centre.
Providing a modern leisure centre in central Romford would address the lack of public swimming facilities in the area, as well as being a major draw for visitors to the town. It would also provide a much-needed training and competition facility for swimming clubs in Havering.
Councillor Michael White, Leader of Havering Council, said:
"This is a great opportunity for the Council to provide a really exciting, state-of-the-art leisure centre in the heart of Romford. We've been working on this project for a number of years but we haven't managed to find the right deal. Now it seems that the right deal is within reach.
"We want to make certain we get the right facility, at the least possible cost to local taxpayers - so if Cabinet approve the proposals, we'll continue to negotiate hard to secure the best result, before we sign on the dotted line.
"If we can close this deal, the new leisure centre would be a huge asset for Romford and the rest of Havering for generations to come."
If approved by Cabinet then the report will be considered by full Council and any development will be subject to planning permission. A new leisure centre would take around three years to build and the Council would look at providing alternative provision for skaters while the new ice rink was being built.
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