Wiltshire councillors welcome plans for new leisure centre in Trowbridge

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee voted in favour of the project

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for leisure and public health.
Author: Jessica Moriarty, LDRSPublished 13th Dec 2024

A brand-new leisure centre has been approved in Trowbridge and local councillors have been reacting positively to the news.

Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee voted in favour of the project at a meeting in County Hall on Wednesday, December 11.

Located on the East Wing site of Bythesea Road, the facility is estimated to cost around £25 million and will include two pools, two studios, an immersive spin studio, a gym with 120 exercise stations, an “adventure play” room, a “live well” suite, a community meeting room, and a café.

Cllr Stewart Palmen said the development would “bring to life a derelict area by the River Biss that has been neglected for a very long time”.

He added: “It’s very positive that finally Trowbridge is getting a decent leisure centre.

“It’s disappointing that it doesn’t have a sports hall but the sports hall at Clarendon will continue to remain open.

“I’m extremely pleased with the location.”

Cllr Mel Jacob said: “People have been campaigning to get a new leisure centre for at least 15 years so it’s fantastic that it’s finally moving forwards.

“I’m absolutely thrilled about the location because I think it’s really important that it is in the centre of town.”

Cllr Edward Kirk noted that he had concerns about the future of free weekend parking at the Wiltshire Council car park and that budget constraints had affected the size of the complex.

He said: “At least we’ve got something.

“There is some duplication at the Clarendon centre anyway, so I understand and accept that, but I’m just pleased something is going ahead finally.”

Cllr Antonio Piazza described the decision as a “key milestone” that was “long overdue” but warned that the implementation phase would require “careful management”.

He explained: “A project of this scale demands stringent cost controls to prevent budget overruns, detailed scheduling to mitigate delays, and proactive risk management to address unforeseen challenges in construction.

“Maintaining strong governance and clear accountability will be critical to avoiding scope creep, while consistent community engagement is essential to sustain public confidence and manage expectations as the project progresses.”

Cllr Jo Trigg noted that Trowbridge “really needs” the leisure centre and that she was keen for it to be built “as quickly as possible”.

She added: “I’m conscious that lots of residents are disappointed there aren’t squash courts, sports halls and diving facilities, but it is great and exciting to have new facilities that will be right in the heart of the town.”

Cllr David Vigar said it was “great that taxpayers’ money” will “benefit the people of Trowbridge in the form of a leisure centre” but added that he would continue campaigning for further provision for sports like football and rugby.

He concluded: “The people of Trowbridge have been asking Wiltshire for a leisure centre for decades now and there have been a number of false starts so it’s good that it has finally started happening.”

In a statement released after the strategic planning meeting, Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, the cabinet member for leisure and public health said: “This is a significant moment for this project, and I’d like to thank all the officers, contractors, stakeholders and public for their hard work and diligence in getting us to this stage.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to comment and respond to the survey or attend one of the drop-in sessions, helping us to shape our plans.

“Our vision is to deliver a modern, impressive, energy efficient facility that will have health and wellbeing right at its heart and play a key role in linking that area of Trowbridge to the centre of town, improving what our county town has to offer.

“We are looking forward to seeing that vision start to become a reality in 2025.”

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