Council seeks views on future of seven leisure centres
Leicester City Council has opened a six‑week public consultation on proposals that could reshape leisure provision across the city, including the proposed closure of New Parks Leisure Centre and a major upgrade to Leicester Leys.
The consultation, which runs from 21 September to 2 November, invites residents to give their views on how the authority should invest in its seven council‑run leisure centres. The council says the review would allow it to focus resources where they will have the most impact and deliver modern facilities for local families.
“We now have the opportunity to make a major investment at Leicester Leys – one of our most popular centres – creating a modern leisure, library and wellbeing hub that can serve local families for many years to come,” said Councillor Vi Dempster, Assistant City Mayor for Health, Culture, Libraries and Community Centres.
What is proposed for Leicester Leys and New Parks
Under the plans being consulted on, Leicester Leys Leisure Centre would receive an £8m investment to redevelop it as a combined leisure, learning and wellbeing facility. The council says the package would include upgrades to swimming facilities, the return of the centre’s flumes, a larger gym, a new dance and wellbeing studio and improved community spaces.
By contrast, New Parks Leisure Centre on St Oswald’s Road is being considered for closure. The building is around 51 years old and the council says it requires significant maintenance investment. According to the council, New Parks currently has the lowest levels of usage and income across its leisure estate.
- Leicester Leys: proposed £8m transformation into a leisure, learning and wellbeing hub.
- New Parks Leisure Centre: proposed closure due to substantial maintenance needs and low usage.
- Overall: views sought on how to allocate investment across seven council‑operated leisure centres.
Local consequences and choices
The consultation is the next step in a programme of investment the council says has already helped increase visits to more than two million a year across its leisure network. Residents and regular users will be asked to consider whether concentrating investment on fewer, upgraded centres would provide better facilities and value for money, or whether keeping all existing sites open remains preferable despite rising maintenance costs.
Community groups, older people, families and clubs that use swimming pools, gyms and studio spaces will have to weigh the impact of any closure on travel and access. The council has not published proposals for replacement provision in New Parks should the site close, instead asking respondents to outline local needs as part of the consultation.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Consultation period | 21 September – 2 November |
| Investment proposed for Leicester Leys | £8m |
| Age of New Parks building | 51 years |
| Number of council leisure centres | Seven |
How to take part
The council emphasises that no final decisions have been taken and that the consultation is an opportunity for residents to influence plans. It is asking everyone with an interest to respond, from regular centre users to groups that depend on particular facilities.
Information on how to respond has been published by the council alongside details of the proposals. Residents who use New Parks or Leicester Leys, and organisations that run sessions from those sites, are likely to be particularly affected and are being encouraged to make their views known.
As the city weighs up where to target limited public resources, this consultation will determine whether investment is concentrated on fewer, upgraded hubs or spread across existing provision. The outcome will have implications for access to sport, leisure and community services across Leicester.
