Plans for a new Flitwick Leisure Centre to replace the existing facility were given full approval by Central Bedfordshire Council’s (CBC) development committee on Wednesday (30 July).

The new leisure centre will be located on land adjacent to the current site, which will be given over for residential development once construction is complete.

The new £12.5m centre will be operated by Stevenage Leisure – which also looks after the current site, as well as nearby Sandy Sports Centre and Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre on behalf of CBC.

Designed by B3 Architects, the centre will include:

• An eight-lane pool with a separate learner pool and toddler splash area • A four-court sports hall

• A 120-station health and fitness suite with cardio and resistance equipment • Three studios for a range of class-based physical activity

• Two squash courts • A crèche

• An indoor climbing wall • A café

• A health referral room for confidential health and wellbeing advice

“This is a really exciting milestone in getting a new leisure centre up and running in Flitwick, opening up all sorts of physical activity opportunities for local people,” said Ian Dalgarno, CBC executive member for community services.

“By thinking commercially and working in partnership with our colleagues in the town council, we have brought forward a great proposal for Flitwick and the surrounding villages which will transform what’s on offer.”

Provided a developer can be sought in time, work is expected to begin in autumn, with hopes of a winter 2015 completion date.