Work is underway in the London Borough of Ealing on a landmark leisure centre to replace the old Gurnell Leisure Centre, which remained closed after COVID.

The modern complex will include London’s third Olympic-sized swimming pool, a waterpark with slides, fitness studios, a climbing wall, a soft play area and a café.

Outside will be a new skatepark, BMX track and children’s playground. Green space around the new leisure centre is likely to form part of the borough’s proposed new regional park and 450 trees will be planted.

“This project is not just about replacing a building; it’s about providing a lasting legacy that supports the health, happiness and the wellbeing of the borough’s residents and those who live further away,” says council leader, Peter Mason.

As one of the UK’s first all-electric leisure centres it is expected to use 81 per cent less energy each year than the former leisure centre. The pool will be heated by a system which uses recycled surplus heat generated by other devices in the building.

The £125 million Gurnell redevelopment is a key part of Ealing Council’s long-term plan to create a more vibrant, connected and sustainable borough, reflecting findings from a two-year consultation process.

Councillor Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, says the Olympic-size pool is expected to attract nationwide interest and the project is "a catalyst for opportunities within the borough.”

The centre has now been demolished and construction is scheduled to start this autumn, led by Hitchin-based construction firm, Willmott Dixon, with completion expected in 2028. GT3 Architects are leading on the design, with Mikhail Riches the masterplanner and Periscope the landscape architects. The project was organised under the SCOPE framework.

The scheme will also include around 300 new homes, with around a third of these earmarked for affordable housing. The housing has been scaled to minimise the impact on the park and provide improved access through the green space.