Empty leisure centre in Derby city centre could be demolished
The building in Cathedral Road was used by hundreds of people each week
The former Queen’s Leisure Centre in Derby city centre could be demolished, it has been revealed.
Derby City Council’s new cabinet member in charge of the city centre, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, says all options for the building – including its potential bulldozing – “remain open at this stage”.
The building in Cathedral Road was used by hundreds of people each week and by many youngsters to learn swimming skills.
The leisure centre closed in May last year prior to the opening of the new £42 million Moorways Sports Village complex. Its closure marked the end of an era for the city with the building having been open for 90 years.
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Olympic gold medallist swimmer Adam Peaty said he regularly visited the venue as a child, learning how to become a competitive swimmer under the guidance of swimming coach and former Olympian Mel Marshall. Peaty made a special visit to the site just months before its scheduled closure.
More than a year on, the council is now exploring options for the building’s future use. Any exact ideas on what these options will be have not yet been made clear or specific but Cllr Peatfield has said work is ongoing to work out what the site could become in future years.
Ahead of this week’s full council meeting (held on Wednesday, July 19), Cllr Peatfield was asked by a member of the public what the future holds for the former leisure centre. Her answer revealed that the idea of demolition was on the table.
Cllr Peatfield said: “All options remain open at this stage. The council has been exploring the regeneration potential of this part of the city centre and is in the process of procuring a delivery partner in order to determine the best possible outcome for the future of the QLC site and the wider area.
“A development brief is being prepared to support that process. While demolition of the site is a possible option, retaining use of the building or part of it will also be considered, in light of our climate commitment.”