Plans for a £26 million transformation to convert an ageing leisure centre into a modern health and wellbeing hub have been approved.
After securing £20 million in Levelling Up funding in October 2023 to enhance activity and exercise opportunities in the area, South Holland District Council sought permission to demolish the existing swimming pool at the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding.
This will follow the construction of a two-storey extension at the Albion Street site, featuring new pools, upgraded sports facilities, a 3G pitch, a running track, and outdoor play areas.
Castle Sports Complex plans
In a separate application, the council proposed a 70-unit extra care housing complex on the site of the current swimming pool.
Lincolnshire ICB expects this development to bring in more than 177 additional residents, placing greater demand on existing GP services in the area.
They claim additional infrastructure will be required to meet the increased demand.
An artist’s impression of the new South Holland Health and Wellbeing Hub proposed for the Spalding Castle Sports Complex site.
During a Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday (January 8), officers detailed the council’s ‘phasing plan’.
Phase one will involve constructing a new sports centre building and an artificial turf pitch, with the existing swimming pool remaining open during this stage.
Once the new sports centre is operational, phase two will focus on demolishing the existing swimming pool.
The Castle Sports Complex
Phase three will involve developing outdoor games areas and additional parking.
Finally, phase four will make way for the extra care housing scheme, which the council is not expected to oversee directly.
Officers said they ‘cannot understate’ the amount of time they had spent working with partners ‘to get the best scheme that Spalding will be happy with’.
Plans of how the Castle Sports Complex and Wellbeing Hub will look
Coun Henry Bingham (Con) described the project as a ‘massive investment for the area’.
“In planning terms, I can’t really object to anything on it,” he added, before moving the officers’ recommendation to approve the plans.
Coun Jack Tyrrell (Con), portfolio holder for environmental services, seconded the proposal, insisting that the council ‘probably can’t do any more with it’.
Coun Henry Bingham
“I know if we carry on wasting more time on it, the price is going to go up,” he said.
Chairman James Avery (Con) emphasised the significance of the Levelling Up funding, stating: “It’s not every day someone comes along and offers us £20 million.”
Coun Andrew Woolf (Conservative) also praised the plans, noting that ‘plasters and bandages’ had been used to keep the existing swimming pool in action.
South Holland District Council leader Coun Nick Worth at the Spalding Castle Sports Complex
“What we have got here is something that rejuvenates it. We should be very grateful that we’ve got this funding coming to the area,” he continued.
On the second application — an outline proposal for the extra care housing complex, with reserved matters to be addressed by the committee at a later date — councillors also expressed their support.
“We can all be assured that it’s not going to look any worse than what’s currently there,” said Coun Bingham, once again moving the officers’ recommendation to approve the plans.
Castle Sports Complex plans
This was later seconded by Coun Allan Beale (Con).
Coun Anthony Casson (Con) added that there is a ‘great need for a place like this’.
Both applications received unanimous backing from the Planning Committee.