New leisure centre estimated to cost extra £5m

The cost of a new leisure centre in Bradford has risen by £5m, council bosses have been told, and could increase further if work does not begin soon.

The Squire Lane swimming pool and leisure centre in Girlington was proposed more than 10 years ago, but plans have been pushed back by delays and questions over funding.

Councillors are set to be asked to push ahead with the project at a meeting of Bradford Council's executive on Tuesday, despite the estimated cost rising from £27.9m to £32.9m.

According to a report issued to the executive, the rising cost is due to "ongoing construction cost inflation driven by global market conditions".

The original plan was for a £48.8m leisure and medical centre delivered in partnership with the NHS, but the NHS pulled out of the scheme in 2022.

A planning application for the new centre, without the health facilities, was approved earlier this year.

It will include a 25m six-lane pool, a learner pool, fitness gym and studio spaces, as well as a 120-space car park.

If the executive agrees to the plans, the facility could open by September 2028.

According to the report, about £600,000 of the extra £5m needed could come from Clean Air Zone income, which would go "towards the cost of alternative heating technologies and electric vehicle charging infrastructure".

It said the project remained time sensitive, with a £20m Levelling Up grant from the government needing to be spent by March 2028.

"Overall, there is a limited window to proceed," it said.

"Any delay could increase financial risk and may jeopardise the ability to deliver the scheme within the available funding period.

"Not proceeding with the scheme would result in the loss of the grant and could affect the council's ability to secure similar external funding in future."

The report adds the facility will need £500,000 a year to run on top of any income it generates, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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