Bradford Council to put in planning application for new leisure centre
The Squire Lane health and wellbeing centre was first proposed a decade ago
Last updated 3rd Jul 2025
A PLANNING application for a new leisure centre in Bradford is imminent, Bradford Council has revealed.
The Squire Lane health and wellbeing centre was first proposed a decade ago as part of a shake up of Bradford’s swimming pool offer.
In 2021 the Government agreed the Squire Lane scheme, which would include a swimming pool as well as health facilities, should get £20m in Levelling Up funding.
But since then there has been little progress, and calls from some Councillors to scrap the scheme due to the Council’s poor financial situation.
But on Wednesday Bradford Council announced that it was pushing ahead with the Squire Lane project, and a planning application had been submitted.
The Council said the application was “in preparation for considering a final investment decision later this year.”
Much of the money for the centre will come from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s ‘Levelling-Up’ grant.
The application has yet to go live, but the Council says the centre will include:
A 6 lane, 25-metre pool
A depth adjustable learner pool
a fitness gym
two studio spaces for classes
separate spinning class area
A public consultation in March saw plans for the facility unveiled to residents and other stakeholders.
A Council spokesperson said: “Alongside the planning application work is being done to optimise the design and develop final costings. If planning is granted, a detailed procurement processes will need to be undertaken along with further financial evaluation of the schemes viability prior to the council’s executive being asked to make a final determination on if the scheme should proceed.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We’ve always wanted to provide a sport and leisure facility for this part of the district and the recent public consultation gave the community the opportunity to find out more about the plans and provide feedback on the proposals. It’s good to see the project staying on the critical path for delivery and moving on to the next phase of development.
“Obviously, there’s still some way to go before we get to a final decision. We’re pleased to have retained the £20 million grant funding for this pool. Going through this next stage of development will start to more accurately assess the ongoing running costs of a new facility, which we need to have before any final decision can be made on construction.”