Revised proposals for new facilities in Bransbury Park, including a GP surgery, 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, gym, and fitness studio, are now available online. The plans now include new outdoor changing facilities, changes to the building design, landscaping and access road.
Following feedback from the public, stakeholders and the local planning authority, Portsmouth City Council has submitted an updated planning application for new sports and health facilities at Bransbury Park, which can be accessed online.
The public can comment on the proposals until 6 December 2024. Comments on the previous proposals will still be considered, so the public are encouraged to view the revisions to understand the changes. A decision by members of the planning committee is expected at the meeting on 18 December.
The updates seek to address concerns about the impact of the development on the park’s existing features, such as the football pitches, trees, materials used, and the access road.
Changes have been made to integrate the new indoor facilities with outdoor amenities. The existing, dilapidated changing pavilion in the southeast of the park will be replaced with a new facility located closer to the leisure centre which can be used for the football pitches and the new ball courts. The existing pavilion site will be returned to parkland.
The building’s design has also been updated, with brick introduced into the exterior and a revised colour palette that blends with the surrounding environment. Solar panel coverage on the building has been tripled, and it is designed to meet the BREEAM Excellent sustainability standard.
Recognising the low traffic volume on the access road, the design now prioritises pedestrians, with kerbs removed and block paving installed instead. The entrance on Bransbury Road has been relocated eastwards to minimise tree loss.
Outside, a wider variety of trees will be planted, including English Oak, Common Hawthorn, and Sweet Chestnut. In consultation with Sport England, the play area has been repositioned, allowing for the potential reintroduction of a fourth grass pitch in the future, which had previously been removed due to drainage issues.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the Council with responsibility for culture, regeneration and economic development, said:
“A lot of hard work has gone into making this planning application the best it can be before it goes to the planning committee. We have listened to feedback, and I encourage the public to view the changes online.
“As a Council, we are committed to investing in sport across the city, and if approved, this new facility will be more sustainable, financially and environmentally, than the previous offer in this area.”
The Council has worked closely with architects, GT3; and contractors, Wilmott Dixon, to create a modern leisure centre that will offer a wide range of health and wellness activities. These new offerings will complement those available at the neighbouring Eastney Community Centre, which will remain unchanged.
The full set of revised plans can be viewed online here.