Funding to improve links between leisure centres and parks awarded to Leek

Leek’s Brough Park is receiving over £300,000 from Sport England to deliver active environments and improve connectivity between parks, open spaces and leisure centres by blending formal and informal physical activity.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is already working closely with Sport England on the major redevelopment of the leisure centre which is now well underway and on track to re-open in early 2026.

Proposals to enhance movement, leisure and landscaping in the park and around the entrance to the centre as part of the wider redevelopment received a positive public response during last summer’s public consultation.

Since then, the Council and Sport England have been working together to develop designs which have now received a huge boost with the award of £308,000 to deliver active environments.

Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, Councillor Matt Swindlehurst, said:

“The wider redevelopment of the leisure centre is moving really quickly – the steels are all now in place and people can really see the new, bigger centre taking shape before their eyes.

“Alongside that, we’re working on plans to ensure the entrance and the park area around the leisure centre match the exciting new amenities we’re delivering indoors so I’m delighted that this additional generous funding from Sport England will help us achieve that.

“We want to deliver as many formal and informal opportunities as we can for people to move more and be active whilst enjoying spending time outdoors and the plans being developed now will do just that. We’ll be asking people what they think of the designs in the summer so watch this space!”

Plans include a new landscaped area at the entrance to the leisure centre with sustainable planting; new signage around the town centre and the main entrances to Brough Park with details of directions to destinations, distance, and the average time it would take to walk there; and physical activity elements that would be attractive to a younger age group.

Other elements include outdoor fitness equipment, an activity zone and areas to sit, catch up with friends or relax with refreshments from the new leisure facility.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director for Place, Sport England said:

“The MyActive Leek facility is a prime example of the smart way in which we’re investing in places across England to support more people to be physically active.

“Our investment will ensure that, on one site, communities across Leek and the surrounding Staffordshire Moorlands will be able to access sport and leisure opportunities, a brand new swimming pool, first class facilities for children and young people, council services, and a thriving community space.

“Importantly though, our investments will also improve links and access to the nearby open spaces and surrounding Brough Park. This will open up so many more informal opportunities for people to be active for their physical and mental wellbeing.”

The £17 million project to expand and fully modernise the new health and wellbeing centre, which will operate as MyActive Leek when it re-opens, has been funded by £10.8m from the UK Government, £3m from the Council, £1.8m from Sport England, and over £1.1m from Salix for decarbonisation measures.

Find out more about the project on our website.

Pictured L-R - Sport England’s Chloe King and Andy James with Councillor Matt Swindlehurst at Brough Park.