FAQs

Should planning permission and committee approval be granted, it is envisaged that construction of the centre will start in Spring 2025, with the target for opening the new building in Spring 2027.

The redesigned leisure and community centre includes plans for an 8 lane swimming pool and a teaching pool with spectator seating, as well as a four court sports hall, studio spaces, gym, squash courts, and a cafe. Reflecting a new business model it also includes features such as a wellbeing suite and spa facility alongside a larger soft play area than in the previous project.

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.

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.

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 25m 8 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.

The site will remain secure and closely monitored as it has been since demolition was complete. We will continue to keep our neighbours updated.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Cattle Market Car Park has been identified as a location that can facilitate the delivery of much needed housing and community facilities. The next steps will be developing detailed business cases to support robust final decisions on the best methods for bringing the site forward for development. 

• We are still in the early stages of considering options for transforming the Monday Market, which currently takes place at the Cattle Market, into an open-air street market in a nearby location. 

• We will continue to engage with market traders and the wider community about the future of the Monday Market as the plans develop.

• Preliminary discussions have been held with Transport for London about including Fairfield Bus Station in the wider redevelopment of Cattle Market car park.

• These discussions are at a very early stage and any development on the bus station site is ultimately a decision for TfL.

• Our ambition is to create a modern, fit for purpose space in a more sustainable and accessible building that celebrates the Guildhall’s historical context and continues its purpose as the civic heart of Kingston.
• Our preferred option is to refurbish the historic Guildhall to create a space that can house the civic, public and administrative functions that we perform.

• While potential plans for the future of the main Guildhall are being developed, the council will continue to use the 1970s office building, known as Guildhall 2, as its main office space in the meantime. The other 1970s office building on the site, known as Guildhall 1, will be brought forward for sale.