Barnet Council considers two new sports facilities Barnet Council is developing plans to replace two of its ageing sports facilities – Church Farm Leisure Centre Barnet Copthall Leisure Centre. The Sports Consultancy has been working alongside the Council on these projects since September 2014, initially undertaking a review of the Council’s entire portfolio and subsequently supporting them with more detailed revenue planning and affordability analysis for the two current proposals. Under the plan, which were considered by the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 16 December 2015, Church Farm Leisure Centre would be replaced with a new state-of-the-art sports facility at Victoria Recreation Ground. It would include a 25 metre, six lane community swimming pool, a learner pool, a café, a fitness suite and flexible studio space. The second scheme under consideration is the replacement of the 40-year-old Barnet Copthall Leisure centre with a mix of new facilities including a 25 metre, 8 lane swimming pool, a 25 metre, 6 lane swimming pool, a learner pool, a café, fitness suite and flexible studio space. The redevelopment of the leisure facilities at an estimated cost of £30m forms the main part of Barnet Council’s Sport and Physical Activity project. The proposals were drawn up after an extensive public consultation, a resident health impact assessment and planning advice. Savings from retendering the council’s leisure management contract during 2017 will help fund the building costs of the new centres. Councillor Helena Hart, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We want to give our residents every opportunity to lead a healthier lifestyle and the new Victoria Recreation Ground leisure centre, together with the improved Copthall facility, will certainly do that. In these extremely difficult financial times, these proposals present a very creative solution for providing sports and physical exercise facilities for our residents. “Everyone knows the council needs to save money, but this is a case where we can invest to save at the same time as creating top class new facilities for Barnet’s residents. “I look forward to see the outcome of the committee discussions.”
