'Urgent’ works needed to upgrade three Northampton leisure centres

Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet has agreed a £1.8 million capital budget to carry out works at Upper Mounts Baths, Danes Camp Leisure Centre and Lings Forum, which would make them more environmentally and financially efficient.

The council outsourced the management and operations of the leisure centres in 2011 to Unity Leisure (now Trilogy Leisure), but the leases require the council, as landlord, to undertake refurbishments and renewals.

Some of the equipment has reached the end of its life, while the three boilers at Upper Mounts Baths have failed and a temporary repair has been provided to ensure the site remains operational. A report to the council’s cabinet said that other failures were ‘imminent’.

If this happened, it could lead to Trilogy Leasure not being able to continue running the leisure centres and handing them back to the council, where either a new operator would need to be identified or the buildings sold. The leisure centres are currently closed temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The cabinet report states: “In the current market we are unlikely to get another operator for the foreseeable future, and the council would need to offer substantial financial incentives to attract an operator. These incentives are likely to be much more than the cost of repairs currently under consideration.”

The capital costs are estimated to be £1.8 million for works to replace boilers, air handling and condition units, pumps and filtration and energy-efficient lighting. They would all be operated by a new building management system that would minimise energy consumption and reduce the property’s carbon footprint.

The Lings Forum building will be given the least priority out of the three, as it is currently being investigated for redevelopment and would, therefore, have a ‘shorter’ lifespan.

The borough council said it would be ‘advantageous’ if some of the works could be done during the lockdown closure.

Cabinet member Councillor Tim Hadland said: “The three buildings vary in age, from the 1930s to the 1980s and include a listed building. The leisure trust has been a rip-roaring success and, just as importantly, has relieved the borough council budget.

"Some of you may remember how much these buildings used to cost us each year. So it’s good for everybody and for the future unitary council which will find three centres in very good order.”

Labour leader Councillor Danielle Stone added: “Trilogy is a really important asset for the town, and their assets are really important for our town. I’m really pleased to see they will get some major investment.”

She did however raise concerns that the council may not be monitoring the many opportunities to look for grants to help fund the buildings. But Councillor Hadland responded that officers were ‘very switched on’ when it came to applying for grants.

A further report from a project team will be brought to cabinet in July 2020 confirming the scope and full cost of the urgent works, including the programme of work.