At last night’s Council meeting in Waverley, the Council approved a revised budget of £35,999,544 for a much-needed new leisure centre in Cranleigh, expected to open in winter 2027.
Built in 1969, the current leisure centre has outlived its lifespan and is, like many older facilities, very energy‑hungry. The new centre is set to be one of only four in the UK to achieve ‘Passivhaus’ certification, meaning it will be super energy efficient.
Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development at Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Liz Townsend said: “The new centre will use around 60% less energy per square metre than the current building, and we expect it to cut annual carbon emissions by about 75% from the operation. That’s a major step forward in making our facilities greener and more efficient.
“People will feel the benefits too. The building will have much better air quality throughout, and the pools will use the latest microfiltration technology, giving swimmers a cleaner, more pleasant environment.”
Additional budget agreed
To deliver the new leisure centre to the agreed Passivhaus certification and facility mix, the project required an additional £4,862,292, approved at the Council meeting on 3 March.
Rising costs for materials and services, an industrywide trend, account for most of the increase, despite inflation allowances. Another factor was responding to a key issue raised in public consultation: the impact on village centre parking during construction. Retaining parking in Village Way to support the town centre, adds to the overall cost of the project.
More than half of the cost increase will be covered by £2,651,900 in secured CIL funding for the leisure centre, parking and additional EV charging. The remainder will be met through borrowing, with a projected payback period of 52 years.
Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development at Waverley Borough Council, Councillor Liz Townsend said: “A payback period aligned with the life of the building is not unusual. What it doesn’t reflect is the social value the new centre will bring to local health and wellbeing.”
From year three of operation, the Council will also benefit from a management fee from the operator, Everyone Active, for running the new facility. This marks a substantial improvement on the current situation, where the ageing centre is no longer commercially viable.
The new Cranleigh Leisure Centre is projected to generate around £450,000 per year in management fees from year three onwards. This compares to the existing facility, which currently runs at an annual £26,000 deficit for Waverley. This additional income will help offset borrowing and other associated costs - yet still result in a net positive income for the Council, starting at £200,000 annually and increasing over the life of the asset.
Next steps
Willmott Dixon has been selected as the preferred construction partner. Preparations for the build are now underway, and neighbours will receive updates on what to expect in due course. The council and contractor will continue to work closely with the community throughout the project.
Caption: Visual of the new Craneligh Leisure Centre
Visit our project website www.waverley.gov.uk/clcnewbuild to find out more about the new leisure centre, including visuals of the design, accessibility, sustainability, the timeline, our FAQ and more.