Leisure centre demolition begins in Newcastle.
Demolition has finally begun at a Newcastle leisure centre that will be torn down to make way for a multi-million pound replacement.
Excavators moved in to start long-awaited works at West Denton’s existing swimming pool, library and customer service centre on Tuesday morning.
The site in West Denton Way will then become home to a new, £26m facility that is now expected to open in 2025.
That project has been backed with money from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF), but has been subject to several delays and spiralling costs.
Once built, the new facility will boast a 25m swimming pool with eight lanes, a 17m training pool, an aqua play pool, a sports hall, a fitness studio and gym, a library, community spaces, a soft play area and a café.
Demolition of the existing centre, including the pool that was controversially never reopened after the Covid pandemic hit, had been due to start in January this year but was pushed back multiple times.
After seeing work start at last, council cabinet member Paula Maines said: “It’s great to see work finally starting on the demolition of the old West Denton swimming pool and library. I appreciate it’s been a building which played a part in many residents’ lives over the years, but the new centre will offer first class facilities including a wonderful eight-lane pool, gym and library among other things.
“After one or two delays it’s a sign that the project is now well under way, and I can’t wait to see the new building start to emerge next year and open in 2025.”
The main demolition works are scheduled to last for an estimated seven weeks.
Nick Shilling, managing director of contractors Thompsons of Prudhoe Ltd, added: “We are delighted to have started work this week on the former West Denton swimming pool and Library. As a local contractor, we are proud to have been awarded this contract and work collaboratively with Newcastle City Council on this regeneration scheme.”
Thompsons was brought on to the project earlier this year after the city council moved to switch contractors in order to reduce costs, with fears that the scheme would run £6m over budget.
Like many LUF-backed schemes across the country, there have been serious concerns about the impact of inflation on the building of the new leisure centre.
Last week, the National Audit Office revealed that just £900m worth of the total £10.6bn handed out through the LUF, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Towns Fund since 2019 has actually been spent by local authorities.
The setbacks have been blamed on a series of factors including rising costs as a result of inflation, a shortage of skilled workers and delays in Government decision-making.