Funding boost for new Queens Park Sports Centre
Chesterfield residents are to benefit from an enhanced sport facilities thanks to a £2 million funding Funding boost for new Queens Park Sports Centre
The investment comes from Sport England’s Strategic Facilities fund and will allow previously approved plans for the new centre to be expanded to provide additional activity space, including:
• Increasing the main swimming pool from six to eight lanes
• Increasing the size of the learner pool
• Increasing the number of sports courts from six to eight
• Additional studio space on the first floor of the building.
• Spectator seating in the swimming pool hall and main sports hall
Councillor Amanda Serjeant welcomes funding boost for new Queens Park Sports Centre
Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “Along with the collaboration agreement and funding committed by Chesterfield College, this £2 million grant from Sport England will make a huge difference to the quality of the sports provision we will be able to offer to our residents and visitors in the future.
“Since we first announced the project in early 2013, we have consistently said that we would seek grants to improve the number of activities and the space in the new centre and we have worked closely with national governing bodies, local sports groups and current users of our sport and leisure centres to achieve this.
“One of the council’s top priorities is to encourage people to lead healthy and active lifestyles and the new purpose-built Queens Park Sports Centre with its extended swimming pool and sports courts will allow us to offer more space and activities than is possible in the current sports centre. The new design is very space and energy efficient with more activity space being provided in a smaller building footprint than at present.
“There will also be opportunities for employment and training for local people while the centre is built with the current centre remaining in use until the new centre opens to cause as little disruption as possible to residents and sports clubs.”
Charles Johnston, Sport England’s property director, added: “The right facilities in the right areas are fundamental in providing more people with the opportunity to play sport.
“We’re investing in the new Queens Park Sports Centre to provide outstanding facilities which will encourage more people to take up sport and create a sporting habit for life.”
The plans for the extended new Queens Park Sports Centre were approved by the council’s planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday.
As well as the extended pool and sports courts, facilities on offer at the new sports centre will include:
• A learner pool with moveable floor and children’s fun water features
• Café and social space
• Midwifery centre
• Village changing facilities with individual and family cubicles for swimmers
• Changing facilities for other sports or activities
• Three Training Rooms
• Additional Activity studio
• 80 station gym
• Two glass back squash courts with moveable wall
• Car parking for approximately 150 cars.
The new centre will be built on the site of Queen’s Park Annexe.
At 19,050 square metres, it will take up less than half of the site and will also allow currently unusable space such as the derelict seating area to be re-established as green space. The bowls and tennis facilities are unaffected and will remain available.
Morgan Sindall has been appointed as the contractor to deliver the project. The contract specifies that where possible, they will use local people and supplies in building the new centre.
Work is set to begin on site in September with the new centre opening in early 2016.
Further information and displays will be available at the current Queens Park Sports Centre, the Staveley Healthy Living Centre, and the Councils Customer Service Centre.
Information will also be available on the council website and on social media.
