Contractor asked to delay building leisure centre

Contractors have been asked to delay building works on a new leisure centre in a Surrey village until 2027.

Plans were first released by Waverley Borough Council (WBC) in March 2025, including a six-lane 25m (82ft) swimming pool, teaching pool, large gym, two multi-purpose exercise and activity studios, and a cafe at the new Cranleigh Leisure Centre.

Liz Townsend, the portfolio holder for planning and economic development, told BBC Radio Surrey that "hopefully" the centre would open in autumn 2028.

She said she had asked for the delay to the project, which had nearly doubled in budget to £36m since it was first announced, to give high street traders an "uninterrupted Christmas period".

Opposition councillors said residents, retailers, market traders and users from Cranleigh continued to express concerns regarding delays, the impact of construction, and the practical implications for parking and access.

The existing leisure centre is 55 years old and has "exceeded its life expectancy", a council spokesperson previously told the BBC.

It will be demolished once the new centre is built.

Dave Nicholas said the current leisure centre was "very old and not fit for purpose".

He said: "I would have thought the powers that be would not want to delay it.

"There are some concerns over parking but I would have thought they'd have considered that as part of the plan."

Alison Norrington told BBC Radio Surrey: "A new leisure centre would be very popular and would be used a lot.

"It should be improved but they need to accommodate parking in the new build.

"Inside at the moment it's ok, but it's just dated."

The new centre was initially due to cost £20m when plans were first published.

Townsend said the council had "asked for it to be pushed beyond Christmas this year so that will obviously cause a delay", adding that the centre would "hopefully" open in autumn 2028.

She said the decision to delay the start date was "completely because of me wanting our high street to have that uninterrupted Christmas period which I know is so important to them".

A motion on the leisure centre is due to be discussed at a meeting of WBC on Tuesday.

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