Ageing Leeds leisure centre to be replaced by wellbeing hub

Fearnville Leisure Centre in Leeds is set to undergo a major redevelopment as part of plans to transform the popular but ageing site into a modern sports and wellbeing hub.

Leeds City Council, which owns the centre, plans to build a new wellbeing centre being built on part of the King George V Playing Fields, a 28-acre green space that is home to the current facility.

Indoor amenities are set to include a large main swimming pool, learner pool, sports hall, fitness studios, indoor cycling studio and a 120-station gym, as well as a community café and adventure play area.

Major improvements are set to be made to Fearnville’s outdoor offer, with a 3G football pitch, tennis courts, skatepark and play zone among the proposed features.

The council has now submitted a planning application for the scheme and, if approved, it is hoped that work could get under way in the middle of 2024.

The existing centre would remain open while the new facility takes shape on a part of the site that at present is occupied by a disused artificial football pitch.

Once construction is complete, the current building – which dates back to the 1980s – will be demolished.