Millom: plans for swimming pool and leisure centre submitted

The plans are being delivered by Cumberland Council and were submitted to the planning office on October 23.

They outline a new community leisure centre which would include an 8x15m swimming pool, an 18x34.5m sports hall, a fitness gym and a multi-purpose activity studio along with changing facilities and extended parking provision. 

The leisure centre will be located at Millom School (Image: Cumberland Council) The building would be located on part of the existing Millom Secondary School and Sixth Form, Millom Community Hub and car park, which is all Cumberland Council-owned land. 

It is the current location of an existing school changing facility for the outdoor pitches, which would be demolished as part of the scheme. The car park would be enlarged by the removal of an unused groundskeeper bungalow and garden, the documents state. 

Illustrative CGI of the proposed leisure centre (Image: Cumberland Council) According to the plans, the existing school gym, 'which is need of refurbishment', will be sectioned off from the other buildings and incorporated into the new facility. 

The design and access statement states: "The proposals are for a new community leisure centre in Millom to facilitate and encourage participation in physical activities for the local community and to upgrade and add to existing leisure facilities for Millom Secondary School.

It would be the first time in years that Millom has had a swimming pool (Image: Cumberland Council) "The internal and external spaces are designed to be flexible, simple and low-maintenance but also robust and attractive."

The statement adds: "The location of the building within the existing school site has been carefully considered to allow easy access for the public, whilst not impacting on school security and child safeguarding."

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The plans also state that there will be a reception area and café.  

The leisure facility forms part of the Millom Town Deal, one of four ventures in the area that secured a total of £20.6m from the Government's Town's Fund.

Last year, an invitation to tender was issued to appoint a contractor to complete technical and architectural drawings for the building.

The original Millom Pool, which was on the same site, was knocked down in November 2018 -16 months after it was closed down and later condemned.

Cumbria County Council, which has since been succeeded by Cumberland Council, claimed that this was because of several structural failings, a water leak and both boilers close to failing carbon monoxide tests.