Council Set to Release More Details of Gurnell Scheme
Public exhibitions being held ahead of submission of planning application
Peter Mason, the leader of Ealing Council, outside the closed leisure centre. Picture: Ealing Council
February 21, 2024
After announcing plans to redevelop Gurnell Leisure Centre following its closure in August 2020 due to the building's declining state and the COVID-19 pandemic, Ealing Council has now released an updated timeline for the scheme. Before its closure, Gurnell Leisure Centre had served as a fitness hub for the local community since the 1970s.
In February 2023 Ealing Council put forward a revised outline scheme for a redevelopment of the site following the rejection of an earlier planning application in May 2021. The previous proposal had been rejected due to the unacceptable impact it would have on the site which is Metropolitan Open Land.
At an Ealing Council cabinet meeting on 7 February, approval was granted for the council to begin the next phase of this project. This involves the council submitting a planning application in the upcoming months. If accepted building works on this new leisure centre are set to begin in 2025.
This includes building a new facility, incorporating a 50-metre swimming pool alongside a fitness studio with state-of-the-art equipment. This new development will also include a new eatery and outdoor play park. Their plans also include work on the green spaces surrounding the centre including what is described as a ‘unique’ forest.
This planning application will include 300-400 new flats which will be classed as affordable to aid the funding of the new Centre.
The project would be funded by a mixture of borrowing, money taken from developers as a condition of being granted planning approval and profits from the housing scheme.
Proposed floor plan of the new centre. Picture: Ealing Council
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities said, “Over the past year we have been actively listening to the community and gathering feedback to inform the new proposals.
“We are looking forward to seeing you at one of our community events and hearing your feedback.”
An aerial view of the Gurnell site. Picture: Ealing Council
If the building permission is granted on schedule, building would start next year and the new Gurnell Leisure Centre would open its doors to the public in Spring of 2027.
If you are interested in finding out more about the plans you can go along to Perceval house on Saturday 24 February, to meet council officers, specialist leisure architects, masterplan architects, and landscape architects at one of 2 sessions – 10 am to 12 pm or 1 pm to 3 pm.
There are more sessions at the following dates and times.
• Everyone Active Acton Centre on Tuesday 27 February 4pm – 6pm
• Northolt Leisure Centre on Wednesday 28 February 4pm – 6pm
• Dormers Wells Leisure Centre on Thursday 29 February 4pm – 6pm
• Dr Bike session on Sunday 3 March between 1pm and 3pm at Gurnell’s park land.
Sophie Rowberry
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