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Commercial Property

Demolition of leisure centre for housing and elderly complex set for approval

Halton Council members are recommended to sign off £750,000 to bulldoze the centre with a view to marketing the land to developers

Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes could be flattened to make way for a residential development(Image: Google Maps)

Councillors are poised to approve the demolition of a leisure centre for a new housing initiative, including accommodation for the elderly. During Halton Council's meeting scheduled for Thursday, members will likely agree on allocating £750,000 for razing Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes ahead of offering the site to developers.

With a brand-new leisure facility being constructed on Moor Lane and set to open next spring, the now outdated Kingsway—the original structure dates back to the 1970s and extended during the 1980s—is deemed redundant.

The council aims to redevelop both the leisure centre land and adjacent sites left by the demolished law courts, police station, and Broseley House. The proposed 'Kingsway Quarter' is envisioned as a predominantly residential area featuring specifically designed elderly accommodation to enhance access to the town centre.

Moreover, the council plans to collaborate with Riverside College to furnish apprentices and students with opportunities to contribute to the development project.

According to an official report, greenlighting the demolition would facilitate comprehensive redevelopment, noting: "This unlocks the final parcel of land required to enable disposal of Kingsway Quarter for comprehensive redevelopment. The only remaining encumbrance on the land disposal being the need to demolish the leisure centre building following its relocation.", reports .

The report revealed that since the Ministry of Justice shut down the law courts in 2011, the council has been striving to assemble the Kingsway Quarter site. This included relocating the police station to Gerrard Street and building a new leisure centre at Moor Lane, which is projected to cost around £29m.

The demolition would be financed by capital cash – funds specifically designated for construction and other infrastructure projects, not for financing council services. The report indicated that if demolition gets the green light, diggers could be on site by next spring.

It further stated: "For the demolition and site clearance to proceed as soon as the site is vacated, to ensure that the risk of antisocial behaviour (ASB) is minimised, Halton Borough Council needs to start commissioning work now."