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Masterplan for Ulverston leisure facilities

Ulverston Leisure Centre Credit: South Lakeland District Council

A project is being launched to draw up a ‘masterplan’ for the Ulverston Leisure Centre site.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is to look at what is possible for the site at Priory Road.

The masterplan will examine how the leisure complex could potentially be re-modelled and improved to meet the future needs of the Ulverston area.

The leisure facilities on the site are run by North Country Leisure (NCL) on behalf of SLDC.

The council and NCL are working together on the masterplan, which has been prompted by GSK’s (GlaxoSmithKline’s) need to relocate its sports centre as part of possible future redevelopment plans of its site on North Lonsdale Road, Ulverston.

The first phase of GSK’s development of a new biopharmaceutical factory would include the construction of a production facility, to be built between 2015 and 2021, followed by a new sports hall, football pitches and bowling green as part of the second phase.

The council is investigating how a new GSK sports centre could potentially link with the town’s existing leisure facilities.

Since NCL took over the contract to run the district’s leisure facilities in April 2014, the number of users of the Ulverston centre has significantly increased, with a 45% increase in all-inclusive memberships compared to this time last year.

Currently the Priory Road site is home to a swimming pool, gym, sports and social club, tennis centre, a full-size artificial pitch, all-weather tennis courts and new 3G pitch, as well as grass rugby and football pitches and associated parking areas.

Ulverston Leisure Centre facilities Credit: South Lakeland District Council

“This is very much a study, to see what we could potentially achieve on the site and how we respond to future opportunities to improve leisure facilities in Ulverston. The first thing we will need to know is, what could the site accommodate?

“No firm plans or proposals for change are going to come forward at this stage and the groups using the Priory Road facilities will be kept informed about the masterplan.

“This study will see what may be possible on the site. It will shape the way we go forward. If a realistic project opportunity does emerge, we would begin an extensive consultation with the local community.’’

– David Sykes, SLDC’s Director of People and Places