Plans in for £6m leisure centre in deprived area

New plans have been submitted for a £6m refurbishment of a leisure centre in one of the most deprived areas of Devon.

Discussions about the future of Wonford Sports Centre and Community and Learning Centre have been going on for at least seven years.

Plans were approved in February 2025 but Exeter City Council has now submitted a revised application for a "more compact building" to "ensure that the leisure centre and its associated benefits can be successfully delivered" for the available budget.

The existing gym, the Phoenix Centre and outdoor changing rooms will all be demolished under the plans with a new hub, a cafe area, changing facilities, studio, gym and refurbished sports hall.

The original planning application said Exeter was "one of the most active towns in England" but the ward of Wonford was "the most deprived and least active in the city".

The planning statement said "some areas in the city, like Wonford, are amongst the most deprived in the county and in these areas physical activity levels will be significantly lower".

Exeter City Council agreed the £6m funding package in March and said the new facilities would help "people to be healthy, happy and active every day and to improve health and wellbeing in Wonford".

The money will come from developers building homes in Exeter who are required to hand over cash to improve facilities in the city with additional funding from Sport England.

The council previously said it hoped work would begin early in 2027, with completion expected in the summer of 2028.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.