Trafford Council has begun the building process to create an exciting new leisure centre for Partington.
The full refurbishment of Partington’s leisure centre on Chapel Lane is underway with construction partner Speller Metcalfe.
The fantastic community facility, which will be called move Partington, is set to open to the public in 2028.
The project, part of Partington Sports Village, has been awarded £18.3m Levelling Up funding from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as well as £2m from Sport England.
The transformation of the building, which dates back to 1970, is the latest development in a wider programme of sustainable improvement and innovation in sports and leisure facilities across the borough of Trafford.
The centre, focusing on health and wellbeing, will have a swimming pool, café, sports hall and fitness studios with 40 exercise stations as well as health and wellness facilities.
move Partington will follow the £20m move Altrincham development opened last year and the £7m move Urmston in 2020, which is soon to be warmed with waste heat from a data centre next door. Trafford’s leisure centres are operated by Trafford Leisure on behalf of the Council.
Using part of the Government funding, Partington Sports Village has recently benefited from refurbishment to the Cross Lane changing rooms and pavilion, the reopening of a local boxing club and a new BMX pump track.
The sports village also has two 3G football pitches, sports courts and an open-air gym, which will remain available for use during the work.
Operating across the Midlands, South West and North West, Speller Metcalfe has extensive experience in low-carbon construction, delivering high-quality projects across a range of sectors, including education, sports and leisure, and healthcare.
Cllr Eve Parker, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Sport and Heritage, said:
“We are delighted to get this work under way and we thank local people for their patience as the construction phase progresses.
“We look forward to presenting the community with a brand new facility that will create new jobs and encourage people of all ages, abilities and interests to lead active lives by taking part in fun and engaging activities.”
Jo Cherrett, CEO of Trafford Leisure, a community interest company wholly owned by Trafford Council, which manages leisure in Trafford on behalf of Trafford Council, using any profits and assets for community benefit, said:
“We are delighted to see this investment move forward. We know local people have been eager to see the centre brought back to life and we're excited to create a modern community facility that will serve Partington for generations to come.
“This is much more than a building refurbishment. It is an investment in people, providing a welcoming space where residents can be active, improve their health, connect with others and access opportunities that support a thriving community. We look forward to opening the third site under our move brand and seeing the positive impact it will have across Partington.”
Rob Lashford, divisional director at Speller Metcalfe, added:
“This is an exciting project to be involved in, and we're looking forward to continuing to work alongside Trafford Council and the wider project team to turn these plans into reality and deliver a high-quality facility for the people of Partington.”
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director, Partnerships and Place, Sport England, said:
"Great facilities help people lead active, healthy lives. Our investment in move Partington will create a welcoming, inclusive facility that gives local people more opportunities to move, connect and thrive. We're proud to support Trafford Council's vision to transform opportunities for sport, physical activity and wellbeing in the area."