AN artist’s impression of the proposed Alton Sports Centre facilities have been made available, showing the suggested interior of the new building.

A reserved matters (detailed) planning application has now been submitted to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) by operators Everyone Active.

To be built by EHDC in a joint venture with new partner Everyone Active, which took on the management of the current sports centre on April 1, the new facility will cost in the region of £20m and, if the plans are approved, is expected to be open to the public in autumn 2019.

It is to be built adjacent to the existing centre, which was itself opened in the 1970s and will remain open throughout the development process to prevent any gaps in service.

The released images show a significantly larger fitness suite, designed to reflect the growing popularity of recreational fitness, a purpose-built virtual spin studio, squash courts and swimming pools. They also showcase the proposed destination spa, which has been included to ensure the centre caters for a wider variety of health and wellbeing needs. The spa will be run as a private enterprise within the centre.

EHDC plans to modernise sports and leisure provision in the town in response to diversifying demand from its growing population. The new centre has been designed to reflect current sports and fitness trends and inspire people of all ages and abilities to get active.

A spokesman for Everyone Active said: “If approved, the new centre will give us a platform from which to deliver a variety of initiatives directly into the community, and provide a pathway to elite sports. The leisure operator works to build strong links with local schools and sports clubs and is continually developing its sports offer to bring new opportunities to the community.

“Earlier this year, it launched the Alex Danson Hockey Academy in partnership with the Olympic gold medallist, and its bespoke netball programme delivered alongside Superleague team Hertfordshire Mavericks.”

Everyone Active is the UK’s longest-established sports and leisure provider and currently operates more than 150 leisure facilities across the country.

Regional contract manager Ian Cook said: “We have extensive experience of managing local authority leisure facilities and maximising the benefits they have for communities. Over recent years, we have seen a huge increase in the popularity of recreational fitness, compared with declining participation in other sports, and we are confident that the facility mix proposed by East Hampshire District Council will meet the sports needs of the town.

“Everyone Active is supporting the council to deliver services that improve the health and wellbeing of the entire community, as well as offering more opportunities to participate in physical activity and sports both inside and outside the centre.”

The building contractor for the work on the new sports centre has been named as Metnor Construction, the architects are Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson Architects, and the project managers are Paragon Building Consultant.