Energy efficient leisure centre designs unveiled

Plans have been unveiled for a new Cranleigh Leisure Centre which Waverley Borough Council says will contribute to its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

The council has submitted a planning application for the £31.1m centre, which it aims to open by the end of 2026 or early 2027, subject to the planning permission being granted.

Residents will now be able to give feedback on the project via the formal planning application process.

Paul Reed, director at GT3 Architects, said: “We looked at the strong local vernacular and rural character of the local conservation area to ensure the design can respond to the local village."

According to the council, the final designs have been shaped by feedback from more than 800 responses to an online survey, and two public engagement sessions, which were attended by more than 200 people earlier this year.

The new leisure centre will include a six-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, a gym and exercise studios, and a children's soft play area.

A council spokesperson said: "We have listened to your requests and have incorporated an increased amount of parking spaces from 235 in the initial proposal to 300 in the final design.”

The new bays are a mix of accessible parking spaces close to the health centre, parent and child bays, and electric vehicle charging points, the council says.

The building has been designed to meet Passivhaus standards, which include a strict criteria of sustainable building practises to make it energy efficient.

Mr Reed said: "Designing and building to achieve the Passivhaus standards is very challenging, particularly for a leisure centre. The new highly sustainable leisure centre will be something for the community to be extremely proud of for many years to come.”

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