Winchester Fit for
the Future
Outline of Community
Proposals
May 2014
What’s the problem?
Winchester’s sports provision patchy, fragmented.
Local facilities for training and competition are
inadequate, for swimming and other popular
sports – e.g netball, football, gymnastics.
o River Park Leisure Centre is showing its age; energy
inefficient, large carbon footprint. Council figures
suggest capital investment of £6m+ needed for
repairs and refurbishment, for centre to last
another c.10 years.
o A new sports and leisure centre would be a better
investment – this would expand sports
participation, support health and well-being, and
develop local talent.
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Winchester Fit for the Future
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Group of sports stakeholders from Winchester
and surrounding area
Working to improve sports provision – specifically
the development of sustainable and accessible
community sports facilities
Co-ordinated by volunteer campaign director,
and proposal development group: Winchester
City Penguins Swimming Club, Winchester and
District Athletics Club, University of Winchester –
broader network of c.20 other clubs and groups
Drawing on pro bono expertise, including from
NGBs (ASA and others), University of Winchester,
Studio Four Architects, MITIE, Synergy QS
Sports centre proposal
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Based on research about local needs, supply
and demand, longer-term potential – and
lessons and good practice from UK and
beyond
Facility mix similar to K2 Crawley
Cutting edge technologies, built to last –
spend more now to save money later
Partnership approach to funding, design and
build – WCC, HCC, University, clubs
Local social enterprise or similar community
oriented operating model
Bar End identified as best location
A community sports and
leisure centre that is…
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Flexible – maximising use by enabling a wide
range of activities, in a compact and welldesigned facility
Accessible – serving all customers, whatever
their needs or goals
Sustainable – minimising running costs and any
negative social or environmental impacts
A community focal point – offering opportunities
for play, training, competition, events
AquaZone
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50m by 8 lane main pool
Movable floor and boom(s), to partition the pool
and vary its depth
Enabling simultaneous use by different groups
engaged in different activities
Able to support competition in swimming, water
polo and more (NB a ‘regional specification’ ≠ a
‘regional facility’!)
Spectator seating
Small warm pool(s) for babies, toddlers,
hyrdrotherapy and supported activity for users
with disabilities
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
GymZone
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Sprung and matted floor
Appropriately equipped to support
gymnastics and trampolining; some
forms of dance, martial arts, yoga etc
Could also incorporate movable soft
play equipment and ball pits, climbing
and bouldering walls
CourtZone
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Designed to support inter-county and
national league competition in e.g.
basketball, netball and volleyball (size
of 3 netball courts)
Indoor training for e.g. athletics,
cricket, football
Pull-down bleacher seating
HealthZone
A fitness centre – i.e. a gym, dance studio,
and squash/racket courts (with movable
walls)
o A physiotherapist station, sports science
laboratory, and associated health and wellbeing support
o Could be expanded to provide broader
health services to meet local needs
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Other facilities
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Café and/or sports bar – with pool
tables and/or other leisure options?
Spectator seating for athletics track,
with running strip in undercroft
Office space – including for local clubs
Teaching / meeting space
Sustainability
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Energy efficient, super-insulated
Energy generation on-site – e.g. photovoltaic
cells on roof, ground source heat pump
CHP, linked to district energy scheme
Solar thermal hot water
Rainwater harvesting, re-use of waste water
UV treatment for pool water – dramatic
reduction in chlorine levels
Minimising running and lifecycle costs
Accessibility
Designed to support all age groups and levels of
mobility / ability
o Affordable provision
o Located within easy reach of city centre but also
accessible to those coming from outside
o Cycle paths, safe walking routes
o Easy to reach by car from M3 and other major
routes
o Good bus links, including to train station
o Bar End offers all this, as well as synergy with existing
sports facilities – e.g. athletics track, pitches
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What’s happening now?
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WCC feasibility study and options appraisal published May 2013 –
weak in many areas, not a reliable business case
WCC Leader signalled ‘preferred option’ to Cabinet June 2013
WCC officers developed proposal; presented this and Savills planning
report to Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny Committee September
2013
Public meeting end September…
Ears now open to our proposals?
We’re now developing detailed business case:
 Capital costs for 3 core components (pool, gymnastics, courts)
 Capital estimates for whole centre - Synergy QS
 Detailed programming for 3 core components - use to develop
revenue projections
 Running costs - for pool and for whole centre
Continuing our research and consultation
Pressing for multi-stakeholder meeting to discuss evidence and
options, build partnership
Want to get involved?
See proposals and site plans at www.fit4thefuture.org
o Follow us on Twitter @WinchesterFit, WFF Facebook
page
o You can still sign the online petition if you wish
o What are the opportunities for your neighbourhood,
our city and our district? You might want to talk to
your councillors and other community leaders about
your ideas, suggestions, concerns.
o Contact WFF info@fit4thefuture.org
o Sign up for future email updates
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