Frequently asked questions
Answers for
our community
We know you will have questions, and we are here to help. Below you will find answers to some of the most common queries about the new leisure centre, what is happening, and how it will affect you.
The new leisure facilities
Can you give financial reductions to existing customers?
Offers will be communicated nearer reopening.
Will there be a sauna or steam room?
No. Due to site constraints and what is already included, there is no remaining space.
Are the number of spin classes going to increase to utilise the designated area?
The timetable for the new building is still being confirmed. The space will be used to its full potential.
Will there be noise‑reducing panels between the two community room spaces?
Yes. Suitable acoustic panelling is being selected.
What will be in the new leisure centre?
The new centre will be larger and contain more facilities than the existing site. The preferred design includes a 4-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, 35msq splash pad, wet change, dry change, 100 station gym, 2 storey adventure play area, class exercise room, community room, spin studio, toning studio, changing places facility, café and reception.
How deep will the pools be in the new leisure centre?
Councillors have considered a range of depths that will provide the greatest use for all. The learner pool will range from 0.9-1.2m, and the main pool will vary from 1.0-1.8m.
Will there be viewing for swimming?
There will be a viewing area from the café, which will mainly have views across the learner pool area.
Will the community room have availability for paddle or pickleball?
The community and studio spaces will enable flexible use. The programme for the new centre will be confirmed closer to the opening date of Spring 2028.
Where will I be able to park? Is the pedestrian access to the building staying the same or will there be a path through to the housing estate behind?
There will be parking on site once the new facility is open. There will be a pedestrian access through the site to Croft Road and Sheepy Road car park when the facility reopens.
Why is a café being put in the centre? Won’t that take away business from Atherstone’s cafés?
A café will enhance the family friendly offer that we want to provide and to create a welcoming community space for people that do not necessarily want to use the pool/ gym facilities that will be on offer. An additional café space in Atherstone will provide more choice for residents and visitors to the town.
What will the outdoor spaces be like? Will there be seating to replace the current ones?
The plans for the outdoor space have not been finalised yet, however, the intention is to include seating and landscaped areas.
Will it be big enough? Two buildings are coming down and only one going up – what is being left out?
The new building includes more facilities than present. There will be a 4-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, 35msq splash pad, wet change, dry change, 100 station gym, 2 storey adventure play area, class exercise room, community room, spin studio, toning studio, changing places facility, café and reception.
Design, safety and infrastructure
Will there be solar panels?
Yes. Around 350sqm of solar panels will be installed.
Will the building look like a warehouse?
No. Architects and the Council’s Conservation Officer are ensuring it fits appropriately within the local area.
Are there sufficient emergency exits in the pool hall?
Yes. Designs have been evaluated by fire consultants in line with legal and industry requirements.
Will I have chance to give comments on the design of the building or the activities it will hold?
Yes, people have been able to comment on the designs, following the engagement sessions held in November 2025. Comments were still able to be made during the pre-planning process, which has now been finalised. The planning application has now been submitted and you can view it and make comment through the Planning Portal, application reference PP-14378969.
When will customers be consulted on the design of the new leisure centre?
The Council’s preferred design concept has already been chosen by councillors, Stakeholders had the ability to comment on these plans during engagement sessions held throughout November.
Why weren’t the public consulted before a decision was taken on the design of the new leisure centre?
Councillors have wanted to provide a replacement for the existing Atherstone Leisure Complex / Memorial Hall for some time. But the Council has limited finances and must make decisions which balance competing needs for investment. The Council employed industry experts to advise on the leisure needs of the community over the next 30 years. Based on that advice, Councillors had to prioritise which facilities should be included which they believe will best meet the needs of the community and which are affordable. Residents and other stakeholders have been encouraged to comment on the detail of the design following the engagement sessions held in November.
Accessibility and changing facilities
What other facilities will be provided for people with disabilities including neurodivergence, learning disability and sensory impairments?
The design follows industry best practice and local disability groups are being engaged to ensure accessibility.
Where is the women’s‑only changing space?
The village changing area includes single, double, family and group cubicles, plus an accessible self‑contained cubicle with shower.
What does Sport England suggest for changing facilities?
Changing villages include private cubicles, good surveillance sightlines and flexible zoning for different user needs.
How will you ensure that each sex has privacy within the village change?
All users must use private cubicles and keep swimwear on in open areas.
When the group changing rooms are not being used by school children, can these be made into separate male and female changing spaces?
Yes.These areas can be designated as separate‑sex changing spaces when not in useby school groups.
How will disabled users be able to access the pools?
There will accessible means (hoist / pool pod) to assist disabled users' entry into the pool. There will also be easy access steps into both pools, with handrails on either side.
How will the wet village change work for school children and members of the public?
There will be group changing facilities as well as a changing village, which is standard practice in newly designed leisure facilities.
Will the gym on the first floor cause any access issues?
There will be an accessible lift to allow access to the whole first floor.
I note that the proposed facilities include a Changing Places toilet facility. What other facilities will be provided for people with disabilities, including neurodivergence, learning disability, and sensory impairments?
The design of the new facility will follow industry best practice, and we will also be engaging with local disability groups to ensure the building is as accessible as possible, to meet customer needs.
Using leisure facilities during closure
Will I still be expected to pay my monthly payments throughout the build programme?
There are no changes planned for memberships at Coleshill Leisure Centre or Polesworth Fitness Hub. All Learn2Swim direct debits, along with Atherstone specific fitness memberships, will be cancelled as of Sunday 12th April 2026. We will be communicating all options to our current members, but if you do have any questions / concerns / queries then please contact nwbcleisure@northwarks.gov.uk
What will happen to my membership?
We shall be cancelling all Atherstone specific memberships from Sunday 12th April 2026, including our Learn2Swim direct debits. We will be communicating all options to our current members, but if you do have any questions / concerns / queries then please contact nwbcleisure@northwarks.gov.uk
Why is the Council not providing temporary provision during the construction period?
The Council has been investigating options for temporary provision, including a pop-up swimming pool and gym. Fifteen sites were considered, two were short listed, potential products explored, and a business case developed. The Community & Environment Board considered options on 9th March, ranging from no temporary provision to pop-up alternate pool and gym. Unfortunately, the full cost of implementing pop-up provision is unaffordable and not value for money. However, the Council has agreed to relocate evening and weekend classes to The Queen Elizabeth Academy, and a bus service will be provided to take customers to leisure centres in neighbouring Boroughs. The details of the service will be developed in the coming weeks.
Where will I go to access gym, pools, or classes while the Atherstone Leisure Complex/ Memorial Hall is closed?
Customers will still be able to use other sites in the borough at Coleshill Leisure Centre, Polesworth Fitness Hub, Polesworth Sports Centre, and The Queen Elizabeth Academy for gym and classes. The Council has agreed to relocate evening and weekend classes to TQEA and a bus service will be provided to take customers to leisure centres in neighbouring Boroughs. The details of the service will be developed in the coming weeks.
Where will my child go for swimming lessons when the Atherstone Leisure Centre/Memorial Hall site closes?
The Council has been investigating options for temporary provision, including a pop-up swimming pool and gym. Fifteen sites were considered, two were short listed, potential products explored, and a business case developed. The Community & Environment Board considered options on 9th March, ranging from no temporary provision to pop-up alternate pool and gym. Unfortunately, the full cost of implementing pop-up provision is unaffordable and not value for money, therefore swimming lessons will be cancelled as of Sunday 12th April, when the site closes. Information regarding direct debits will be communicated to our customers in the coming days, but if you do have any questions / concerns / queries then please contact nwbcleisure@northwarks.gov.uk
About the closure and construction
Where will we park during the construction works?
Residents will still be able to use all other NWBC car parks throughout the build.
From the bungalows on Croft Road, will the mature trees be kept?
Some trees within the site boundary have been removed. Trees directly in front of the bungalows are unaffected.
If the substation is moved, will it be open to vandalism if tucked away in a corner?
There have been no issues with the current substation. Suspicious activity should be reported to the police.
What will happen to the Atherstone Leisure Complex/ Memorial Hall when the new leisure centre is being built?
The preferred design option will require that the existing site will close completely Sunday 12th April 2026. The Atherstone Leisure Complex/ Memorial Hall will be demolished, and the new leisure centre will be built on the same site as the Atherstone Leisure Complex.
When is the Atherstone Leisure Centre/ Memorial Hall being closed?
The Atherstone Leisure Centre, Memorial Hall and car park will close on Sunday 12th April. They will remain closed for two years while the new leisure centre is being built.
How long will the Atherstone Leisure Complex/ Memorial Hall site be closed?
The site will close Sunday 12th April 2026 and will be closed for the duration of the construction which is expected to take two years.
Who decided that the whole Atherstone Leisure Complex/ Memorial Hall site should close for two years?
Our Councillors have been considering a replacement for the existing Atherstone Leisure Complex / Memorial Hall for some time. A design concept has been prepared by GT3 Architects with input from Councillors, consultants specialising in the field of sports and leisure centres and staff working in the existing building. The preferred design requires that the whole of the existing site will close to enable the new building to be constructed.
When will the planning application be submitted and when will I be able to see all the documents and plans?
The planning application has now been submitted and can be viewed and commented on via the Planning Portal reference Number PP-14378969. Any feedback provided during the engagement process has been taken into consideration and the current plans remain available to view at our Leisure Facilities.
What will happen to other services such as the NHS blood service when the Atherstone Leisure Centre/Memorial Hall site closes?
The Council are in working with the NHS services that currently run from the Memorial Hall to provide a suitable alternative location, and more details will be released once a conclusion has been reached. The intention is to have the alternative location available from Monday 13th April.
Memorial Hall and commemorative purpose
Will the community room be similar in size to the current Memorial Hall, and will it still be able to accommodate its current hirers?
The current designs will have a movable dividing wall separating the community room and studio, that will be able to create a space similar in size to that of the current main hall. The programming of the new centre is to be confirmed closer to the opening date of Spring 2028.
Why does the Memorial Hall have to be lost? It was constructed in memory of those who gave their lives for their country.
The building is at the end of its economic life and is no longer weather tight. But the commemorative purpose for which the Memorial Hall was built is particularly important and will continue to be recognised in the new building.
The Memorial Hall has a stage and can show plays. Will the new building have something similar?
The Memorial Hall stage hasn’t been used for this purpose for some time, but the design of the new facility will enable small scale performances to take place.
If you have a question that is not listed, please get in touch. We want to hear from you.
