Multi-million pound plans to transform Altrincham Leisure Centre move closer

Trafford Council has applied for planning permission for the large-scale refurbishment of the popular Altrincham Leisure Centre – branded move Altrincham – on Oakfield Road in Altrincham’s town centre.

If approved, move Altrincham will benefit from a 25m swimming pool, a 20m learner pool, a pool pod to improve accessibility, a combined lobby area with pool viewing and café, a wet village change, an inclusive changing places toilet and a health and wellbeing spa facility. There will also be a wellness assessment room, an enlarged fitness suite, fitness changing and dry change areas, two flexible studio spaces, an immersive indoor cycle studio, a four-court sports hall and storage, a gymnastics hub and staff rooms and offices.

The new mix of facilities has been developed with support from Sport England, to deliver long-term sustainable leisure provision that gives the best health and wellbeing outcomes for residents – a long-term commitment to the local community from Trafford Council.

The investment supports the Council’s strategy and commitment to get more people moving more often, helping improve health and wellbeing, and is part of its Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, ‘Trafford Moving’.  It forms part of a borough-wide long-term strategy to support the health and wellbeing of local residents through access to affordable, sustainable, accessible, and exciting, modern leisure facilities. It follows the redevelopment of move Urmston in March 2020.   A large-scale online consultation event was held with residents in January this year; a total of 576 people responded, who were largely in favour.

On Tuesday 4 October the council will close Altrincham Leisure Centre for a short period of time to carry out essential maintenance and assessment in readiness for the appointed contractor to be able to start on site. Trafford Leisure will keep staff and customers of Altrincham Leisure Centre fully informed, and plan to re-open the centre two weeks after its temporary closure.

If the investment plans go ahead, the centre will be closed over Christmas 2022 to prepare for the work being carried out in the new year. The full refurbishment of Altrincham Leisure Centre would take up to 18 months.

Jo Cherrett is CEO of Trafford Leisure, a community interest company wholly owned by Trafford Council, which manages leisure in Trafford on behalf of Trafford Council, using any profits and assets for community benefit.She says: “The application for planning permission marks another step forward in bringing modern and sustainable leisure facilities to the people of Trafford.”

Trafford Council Leader, Cllr Andrew Western, said: “This development if approved, is fantastic news for the people of Altrincham and the surrounding areas. Health and wellbeing is of major importance to Trafford Council and I am delighted that we are a step closer to being able to completely transform Altrincham Leisure Centre into an amazing 21st-century facility for everyone to enjoy. It also supports the Council and Executive’s priority to reduce health inequalities across the borough.

“This centre would be truly inspirational – like our move Urmston site. We are investing millions of pounds into this project as we believe that is the right thing to do to ensure residents are given top-class facilities to help them improve their health, fitness, and wellbeing. Thank you to the Executive for supporting these truly exciting plans.”