Council to put extra £4.3m into new neighbourhood hub

TOWN Hall chiefs at Warrington have agreed to step-up the borough council’s contribution to a £16 million new neighbourhood hub by an extra £4.3 million.
The decision, by the council’s executive board, means the authority will be providing £10.8 million in loans and contributions to LiveWire to support the on-going development of Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub.
It will help transform the existing Great Sankey Leisure Centre into a stage-of-the-art facility providing leisure, health and cultural services.
Originally, in January last year, the council agreed to invest £6.5 million into the scheme but the decision to increase this by a further £4.3 million will further support the delivery of a first class facility and speed up development.
Cllr Russ Bowden, the council’s lead member for corporate finance, said:  “West Warrington has seen significant changes in recent times, with new homes, increased jobs and more young families. It’s vital that we meet the increasing demand for high quality leisure and health services, and this facility will help us do this.
“I’m delighted these new investment proposals have been given the go-ahead. It will help ensure we deliver a very special community facility that will be used by thousands of people for many years to come.”
Cllr Tony Higgins, lead member for culture, leisure and community, said: “The Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub will play a key role in the regeneration of the area, providing a leisure, health and wellbeing facility that the whole community can be proud of.
“This additional investment from the council will help maximise the potential of this fantastic facility. It’s part of our on-going drive to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in communities across Warrington.”
The hub will include a new entrance concourse and library, new fitness suite, upgraded swimming pool, dance studios, meeting spaces, 3G pitch, new tennis courts and refurbished sports hall.
The hub will also house a pharmacy and healthcare space, while new plans have been developed for a luxury spa to further improve the wellbeing offer to residents.
Emma Hutchinson, managing director of LiveWire, said: “LiveWire is pleased to have secured this additional investment from the council for the development of the Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub.
“The dementia friendly facility will make a real difference to the lives of people in West Warrington allowing them to access all their leisure, health and cultural services under one roof.”