Huddersfield Sports Centre future hinges on Tesco decision

Jul 1 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new sports centre for Huddersfield hinge on a deal with Tesco.

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet is set to approve plans for the new centre next week.

And a report confirms that if plans to sell off the existing Sports Centre site to Tesco for a new store do not go through, there is not enough capital to build a new centre.

The cost of the proposed new centre on council-owned car parks at Spring Grove, Huddersfield, is put at £36.2m.

The bulk of that is expected to come from the sale of the current centre site in Southgate to allow Tesco to develop a new superstore.

The retail giant and the council will also develop the existing Tesco site in Viaduct Street.

At their meeting on Tuesday July 7, Cabinet members will view a report which confirms that proposed features include: a 25-metre swimming pool; a teaching pool; two large sports halls; climbing, squash and martial arts facilities; a large fitness suite; and a café and children’s area.

The proposals also include a family leisure water facility, including a “beach”, wave machine, flume, sidewinder and several more water features.

According to the report, the estimated cost of the centre is £36.2m, but a substantial amount of this funding would come from the capital receipt gained by the council selling land to Tesco.

The report adds that the current sports centre is in decline and nearing the end of its useful ‘life’.