THE demolition of Spenborough Pool to allow a £15 million replacement to be built looks set to start in September.

Bosses at Kirklees Council have submitted a notice indicating they want to start knocking down the ageing structure in three months' time in readiness for a planned Spen Valley Leisure Centre to be built on the site in Liversedge.

The scheme, which is being funded mainly by the Council, would also see Kirklees Active Leisure contributing £750,000.

The plans, which were submitted to planners in May, include an eight-lane 25m pool, a five-lane 20m activity pool, a fitness suite, and exercise and cycling studios.

In an application for prior notification of the demolition, documents state that the multi-storey reinforced concrete framed building will be demolished using a top-down method and the site will then be cleared in readiness for work on the new sports centre to begin.

Fly-through video of plans for Spen Valley Leisure CentrePlans lodged for £15m leisure centre in Spen Valley

An earlier planning statement outlined how alternative sites for the new leisure centre, including other locations within the existing site, were considered and ruled out.

“Alternative sites have been considered by Kirklees Council to accommodate the proposed development.

“An initial search in 2015/16 for potential sites in the Spen Valley area for the construction of a new Spen Valley Leisure Centre did not identify any deliverable sites due to issues such as ownership, planning and/or legal constraints and Sport England concerns about other sporting facilities.”

A detailed appraisal evaluated the potential locations on the existing pool site, which concluded that the most appropriate site was on the site of the existing swimming pool.

“The playing field at the rear of the existing pool is recognised as a flood plain and given appropriate protection from development by the Environment Agency; the playing fields known as Princess Mary playing fields and stadium were ruled out due to Sport England concerns and the cost of finding and creating replacement provision elsewhere; whilst the temporary car park was found to be too small.

“The site of the existing Peak Fitness and playing field pavilion buildings was eliminated due to planning constraints relating to the adjacent residential properties and the size/shape of the land

Having been consulted on the new leisure centre plans, Sport England has indicated it supports the application.

"The proposals were the subject of a high-level design review by Sport England. The proposal has incorporated the majority of suggested amendments and is considered to broadly comply with Sport England's design guidance on pools."

Other consultees include West Yorkshire Police, who have advised that security fencing should be installed around the site perimeter and that the proposed wooden knee railing to the southern border of the site "provides no security for the parked vehicles or the building from the open fields" making the car park "vulnerable to vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour from youths congregating around the building".

The Council's trees department has also expressed concern about the level of mature trees on the site which are due to be lost to accommodate a new car park.

A decision on the plan application is expected shortly.