Part of the leisure centre will be demolished, whilst other parts will be expanded

Part of a 50-year-old leisure centre is set to be demolished as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment. Manor Leisure Centre in Whittlesey is set to benefit from £18.67 million scheme to redevelop and expand the swimming pool building and demolish the separate sports hall.

The Fenland District Council project, in partnership development with Fenland Inspire! Investment programme and Alliance Leisure, would offer “a variety of sports and leisure activities, including new padel courts and a relocated skate park”.

Council Leaders say the demolition aims to make better use of the Manor Field location and boost links between the centre and outdoor activity spaces.

A progress update report published in February said a leisure centre just for sport is no longer a “finaically viable proposal” and must attract users for other activities.

The report suggested it could include community youth activities, rehabilitation activity from injury or surgery, group classes for older and frail people, or education sessions regarding movement and healthy food.

The facility may offer GP or other health professionals the opportunity to work closer to the community, impacting on the NHS Core20Plus5 targets.

Fenland District Council said: “The projects aims to broaden the centre’s appeal by modernising facilities, while keeping costs low.

“The redevelopment also seeks to make better use of the Manor Field setting by strengthening links between the leisure centre and outdoor activities, reinforcing the field’s role as a key multi-generational community hub and providing facilities that meet the needs of Whittlesey’s growing population.”

The submission of the planning permission followed a survey with residents, leisure centre users and community groups who were asked to help shape the proposals. Cabinet approval is expected to finalise decisions in July 2026 before construction can begin.

Cllr Steve Count said: “This is a significant proposal for the Council, and reaching validation stage is an important milestone. We want to ensure Whittlesey has a leisure facility that can serve the community well into the future, and the plans submitted reflect the ambition to achieve that.

“Our current facility has served residents brilliantly for the past 50 years, but it now requires significant investment. Working with a specialist project team, we’ve developed proposals that we believe could deliver an excellent community experience, subject to the necessary approvals.”

The Manor Leisure centre was built in 1974 beginning as an outdoor lido and covered during the mid 1980s. The sports hall building contained a hall, spin rooms and changing rooms for football which is no longer in use. The facilities have been described as “worn out, inefficient” and “no longer fit for purpose”.