MORE details of a planned £48 million leisure and enterprise centre have been revealed as work is expected to move to the next stage.

Plans for a new swimming pool at Squire Lane, near Bradford Royal Infirmary, date back years.

The scheme was given a huge boost in 2021 after the scheme was awarded £20m through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

Squire Lane was the Bradford West bid for the national funding pot, and has so far proved to be the only successful bid in the district.

But since the cash was awarded there has been little movement on the plans, which would be built on a currently vacant piece of land.

Next week, Bradford Council bosses will agree to move to the next stages of the scheme – including designs and planning applications for the centre.

A report to members reveals that the facility will include;

  • two swimming pools consisting of a six lane, 25metres pool and an adjustable depth learner pool
  • a gym with 100 pieces of equipment
  • a spin class studio two gym areas
  • two training rooms and office
  • small, medium and large community rooms
  • Outdoor play facilities

There will also be a number of health facilities in the centre.

The report going to the Executive reveals that the scheme will be funded through a mix of the £20m Levelling Up Funding and £28.9m capital and borrowing.

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The centre is expected to open in 2026, and be built using energy saving measures.

Originally the scheme was due to be delivered along with a number of different health organisations. But the report going to the Council’s Executive on Tuesday says: “The project has further evolved as discussions with Health and other external partners has continued during the last 12 months.

“Not all the Health partners that were envisaged at bidding stage have been able to commit to the timescales the Council is working to.

“The Council is currently working with Bradford District Care Trust as well as the Council’s Health and Well Being Team who will occupy part of the proposed new facility.

“The new facility will include a range of flexible space which could be allocated to external health partners should they be able to commit to the project once they have been through their capital finance approval processes.”

The original plans would also see the Council partnering with “a third-party operator” to deliver the enterprise side of the centre. But the new report says this too has changed, adding: “The enterprise part of the scheme will now be delivered in-house with various Council services making use of the community spaces to deliver a range of services to support local businesses.”