Last Faint Hope for Old Gurnell Leisure Centre Disappears
Demolition begins after Mayor rubber-stamps council plan
The roof of the old building being dismantled. Picture: Around Ealing
April 1, 2025
Any faint lingering hope that the council might be persuaded to retain the old Gurnell Leisure Centre has finally gone as demolition has commenced at the site.
There has been opposition to the redevelopment for the past decade ever since a new centre was first proposed but, since the grant of planning permission for a new facility last year, most had already reconciled themselves to the disappearance of the original building.
First opened in 1981, it remained closed after being shut during the pandemic. There had already been five years of discussion about a new centre starting in 2015 with initial proposals including residential buildings up to 17 storeys high which were rejected in 2021.
In May 2024, Ealing Council submitted a revised planning application for the site, proposing a new sports facility and approximately 300 flats with around a third classed as affordable. This led to renewed opposition from residents and campaigners, who raised concerns about development on Metropolitan Open Land and potential flood risks. However, the borough planning committee gave the green light to the scheme this January with the Mayor rubber stamping its decision last month allowing the bulldozers to move in on 24 March.
The council is promising a new complex which will include cutting-edge facilities such as a 50-metre swimming pool, fitness studios and a climbing wall.
As well as this, the wet-side facilities will form the largest part of the fitness site and will feature a waterpark with multiple slides and a lazy river. On the grounds outside the leisure centre will be a new skate park, cycle pump track, outdoor gym and children’s playground. The parkland around the leisure hub will form part of the borough’s Regional Park.
It is hoped that the building design will mean it will use 81% less energy each year compared to the old Gurnell. It will be one of the UK’s first all-electric leisure centres, meaning there will be no gas supply and no fossil fuel combustion on-site. In addition, the building’s low-carbon design will be achieved through highly insulated building fabric, solar panels and waste heat which will be re-used to heat the pool.
CGI of the skate park with one of the housing blocks in the rear. Picture: Ealing Council
Council leader Peter Mason said, “The demolition takes us another step closer to having a modern, state-of-the-art leisure hub in the heart of the borough.
“This project is not just about replacing a building; it’s about providing a lasting legacy that supports the health, happiness, and the wellbeing of Ealing’s residents and those who live further away.”
Councillor Blerina Hashani, cabinet member for thriving communities, added, “With demolition of the old site in full swing, we can finally move forward to the next step of rebuilding Gurnell, ensuring it is fit for the future. With the site being home to one of just three public 50-metre swimming pools in London, we’re expecting nationwide interest. The entire project is a catalyst for opportunities within the borough.”
The council hopes that the new centre will open by the end of 2027.
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