Council pleased to receive Levelling Up funding for Fakenham Leisure and Sports Hub facility

Date published: 22nd November 2023

The Council has been granted £9.875m to build new facilities at Fakenham Sports Centre, including a 25 metre public swimming pool and improved outdoor sports facilities.

Funding will enable the District Council to develop a full size 3G all-weather artificial grass pitch for competitive sports and outdoor sports changing facilities on the Trap Lane sports ground owned by Fakenham Town Council.

The current facilities, owned by the District Council and operated by leisure partners Everyone Active, currently comprises of a sports hall, fitness suite, multi-use area, dance studio, changing rooms and reception area.

Alongside the new leisure offerings, an allocation of £1m has been made for carbon reduction measures to the existing Trap Lane facility.

Cllr. Tim Adams, Leader of the Council said:

“This is fantastic news for both Fakenham and the surrounding communities – there has been great support for a more advanced leisure offering and this funding will allow us to provide facilities that local residents and sports groups desperately need.

We have a great track record of providing one of very few new leisure and facilities in the country, in recent years, with the delivery of The Reef in Sheringham and look forward to bringing a similar offering to Fakenham.”

Steve Blatch, Chief Executive, said:

"This welcome news from the Autumn Statement will allow us to expand our excellent leisure offering into Fakenham. 

We will now establish a project steering group with local representatives and Fakenham Town Council and an internal officer team to develop detailed proposals and prepare a planning application, tender documents and construction timeline which we will share in the coming weeks."
 
Cllr. Christopher Cushing, Leader of the Conservative Group and member for the Lancaster North ward said:

“This is a fantastic Christmas present for Fakenham - the town has been without a swimming pool for 8 years now and the need for a new pool is something residents constantly raise with - this huge investment that will enhance the town and provide considerable enjoyment and health benefits to Fakenham residents and those living in surrounding parishes.

I am grateful for the work that officers at the district council have done to submit the successful bid."

Proposed drawings of Fakenham Leisure Centre

The bid for Levelling Up Fund monies was submitted by North Norfolk District Council with support from Fakenham Town Council, MPs for the Broadland and North Norfolk constituencies, and there has been public support for a larger leisure offering in the town, with local consultation yielding over 1000 responses.

Many residents have campaigned for a new pool facility for Fakenham, following the closure of the Fakenham Academy pool in 2014.

The Council will consider the next steps forward in the coming weeks and provide more details about the plans with local residents in developing detailed designs and seeking planning permission for the new facilities and then proceed with a tender process for the construction of the new facilities.