FAQs

Below you can see the responses to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Thank you to everyone who has spoken to us so far around plans for our Transform Kingston projects. Your feedback has been invaluable and helped shape our proposals. 

We have set out below answers to the questions which have come up most frequently during our public engagement to date. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us at transformkingston@kingston.gov.uk.

New Community Leisure Centre

1. When will the new leisure centre be built?

Construction is underway, and the target for opening the new building is Spring 2027.

    2. What facilities will be included in the new leisure centre?

    The redesigned leisure and community centre includes a 25 metre, eight lane swimming pool, a teaching and learning pool, a large fitness gym, three multi-purpose studios, a sports hall, squash courts, a health suite, soft play area and café.

    This delivers the range of activities that residents and stakeholders said they wanted to see, and is further supported by a recent review of indoor sports needs across the borough.

      3. Is it possible to include a hydrotherapy pool?

      The overwhelming message from residents is that a main swimming pool and learner pool are required in Kingston, and this is what is being delivered. For a hydrotherapy pool to work correctly, consultation rooms and other facilities are required, and we do not have the space available on the site. It is also not possible to heat either of the planned pools to the required temperature.

      The temperature of the learner pool will be warmer than the main pool, making it more appropriate for people that may need to move more slowly, whilst meeting the needs of as many people as possible.

        4. Could a 50 meter pool be delivered instead?

        Modelling on the strategic need for swimming pools has been undertaken for the borough in line with Sport England guidelines. This modelling supports the delivery of a 25 meter, eight lane swimming pool, and 20m x 10m swimming pool in Kingston town centre to meet residents needs from a participation and performance perspective. This along with the size of the site available for the delivery of a new leisure centre means that a 50m swimming pool cannot be delivered in this location.

          5. Will the new leisure centre be affordable?
          • The centre will remain council-owned and we are firmly committed to keeping prices as low as possible, whilst still ensuring the facility offers value for money to taxpayers.
          6. Why was the Kingfisher Leisure Centre closed?
          • The Kingfisher has been closed since 2019, when it was identified that urgent repairs were needed to the roof. We did not take this decision lightly, but the building was deemed unsafe, and we had no choice but to close it immediately.
          • As we investigated in more detail, it became clear that the works required to make the centre safe to use were far more extensive than initially thought, and these would not significantly improve the accessibility, sustainability, or quality of the building.