Work set to begin to create 'state-of-the-art' new leisure centre near Northampton

A deal to convert a rehabilitation centre near Northampton into a new public leisure centre has been completed with work set to start.

Daventry District Council has bought the Chris Moody Centre from Moulton College for £8.5 million, funding from housing developer contributions.

Daventry Leisure Centre operator Everyone Active will manage the state-of-the-art Moulton Leisure Centre after agreeing a five-year contract.

The council's community culture and leisure portfolio holder, Alan Hills, said: “The creation of a new leisure centre to meet the needs of communities in the east of Daventry district has been a long-term ambition of the council.

"We’re delighted to have completed the purchase of this facility so it can be used for a wider range of health and fitness activities for the whole community.

“We have worked in partnership with Everyone Active to deliver a range of fantastic leisure services for the benefit of our residents over a number of years, so we’re delighted to collaborate with them on this exciting project.”

Planning permission to change the use of the building was approved in January after the council approved the business case for the sale in December.

A new health spa, fitness suite and exercise studios will be built and the car park will be extended, with the existing swimming pool and rehabilitation hydro pools kept.

Building work is set to start in the spring and the centre is expected to re-open to the public by the end of 2020.

Simon Fearn, area manager for Everyone Active, said: “We’re delighted to begin this fantastic new partnership with Daventry District Council and we’re thoroughly looking forward to engaging the local community with new ways to stay active.

“The new leisure centre will combine state-of-the-art facilities with our award-winning swimming lessons and activities that we hope will support locals’ health and wellbeing in the east of the Daventry sistrict.”