THE redevelopment of Basingstoke Leisure Park is a “once in a lifetime opportunity” – but the council does not yet know how it will be funded. 

This week Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is launching a consultation on the future of the site in Euskirchen Way, with two engagement sessions to give the public the chance to hear more about the possible options, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.

The authority has previously revealed that plans for the council-owned Aquadrome could include a soft play zone, a climbing wall, spinning studio, extra health suite facilities, a larger competition swimming pool with eight lanes, a learner pool, upgraded leisure waters with a range of fun activities and a larger fitness suite with more stations. 

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NewRiver Retail were due to redevelop the leisure park into a £300 million designer retail village alongside a host of new facilities, but it pulled out of the scheme in October last year. 

In an exclusive briefing with the Gazette the council were asked how much latest plans would cost, but it said that a figure is not yet known.

Cllr John Izett, cabinet member for finance and major projects, said: “This plan will be stronger because there will be a high degree of interest in it and it will be different but we need to look closely at how we finance this and raise the funding. It’s different to NewRiver Retail because there was £300 million and now that’s not here but that doesn’t mean there aren’t new opportunities to do this, and it is going to be more of an organic gradual realisation of the new masterplan.” 

Cllr Izett expressed hope that the council would be able to invest £4 million in the Aquadrome over the next few years. 

He said: “We will need to talk to investors and if you look at the public engagement process, we do talk about the potential need to bring in alternative uses that might be housing and it maybe employment uses but it’s very early days we can’t determine to what extent.” 

Plans to modernise the Leisure Park have been described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” by acting council leader Simon Bound. 

Cllr Izett told the Gazette that after funding was removed when NewRiver pulled out he is confident that money would be found to fund the plans.

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A masterplan is currently being drawn up by multidisciplinary architecture and urban design practice BDP, with leisure specialists FMG looking at the most viable mix of facilities for the Aquadrome and property consultants JLL advising on market viability. 

The first public engagement session took place on Wednesday. The second will take place today at 12noon. To view the sessions, go to www.leisureparkbasingstoke.co.uk.

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