Proposals to build a new public leisure centre in Egham in Surrey have been approved. The designs for the project were put forward by Watson Batty Architects and they have received full planning approval. The project has been valued at £19 million.

Watson Batty Architects worked closely with their client, Places for People, in order to come up with plans that would transform the 23,400 sq ft facility already on the proposed site, into a purpose built 41,000 sq. ft. space with state of the art facilities. The proposal is to demolish the existing building and before creating the new leisure centre on the same site.

This project will create the town’s first public swimming pool which will feature eight 25 metre lanes as well as a moveable floor and spectator seating. There will also be a 10 meter x 10 meter learner pool that will also have a moveable floor. The leisure facilities will also include a 4-court sports hall and a fitness suite with 110 different stations and an indoor cycling studio. As part of the designs there is also four flexible studios indoor health studio with a sauna, steam rooms, wet and dry treatment rooms.

Watson Batty has been working to devise the project with Places for People, Runnymede Borough Council and Active Lifestyle which is the centre’s operators. Also involved in the drafting of the proposal were a number of other consultants in order to make the most out of the developments. The consultation took over a year and a public consultation was also held in order to make sure that they deliver facilities for the local communities and make sure that they receive the optimum capital investment for the project.

There are also a range of external facilities included as part of the leisure centre plans, including six 3G five-a-side football pitches and a full sized synthetic turf pitch and a full-sized football grass pitch.