Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s councillors gave the green light to a futuristic leisure centre, featuring an indoor street and winter garden running through the spine of the building on 14 February (subject to final approval by the National Planning Casework Unit.)
SLC played a pivotal role back in 2016 in developing the feasibility study.
SLC supported by cost consultants Castons and architects AFLS&P working with GL Hearn provided consultancy support in relation to the appropriate facility mix for a new replacement leisure centre and an exploration of possible site options, designs and costs. SLC worked closely with the Council to establish whole-life costs for the development and to support members in the evaluation of options. This secured political commitment for the scheme to replace the Magnet Leisure Centre and relocate the facility to Braywick Park.
The new centre is scheduled to open in late 2019 and will be funded through developer contributions.
The £32.8m Braywick Leisure Centre includes a 25m, 10-lane swimming pool – with moveable floor, a 200-station gym floor, training and splash pools and a health club featuring two dance studios and an indoor cycling studio.
The centre will also feature four squash courts, six outdoor netball/tennis courts and a floodlit all-weather 3G pitch.
Marie Percival, Project lead at Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2016/17 said: “I don’t think you’ll regret using SLC. My personal view is they are head and shoulders above other leisure consultancies in terms of market knowledge and reporting.”
Duncan Wood-Allum who led the SLC project team said, “This was a challenging project which needed to dovetail seamlessly into a wider regeneration scheme. We are delighted the Council has taken a progressive move to ensure its leisure facilities will be playing such a key role in its approach to placemaking as Maidenhead prepares for its transformation under Crossrail.”