Work to build a new £20m leisure centre redevelopment, set to open next year, is underway.

The existing White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley is to be replaced by a major new leisure complex home to a new swimming pool and fitness suite, among other recreational and sport facilities.

It will see the ageing complex on Hilda May Avenue demolished and replaced with a new build on the same site, due to open in early 2022.

The new centre includes a 25-metre, six lane swimming pool with movable floor, multi-station fitness suite and a ‘Feel Good Suite’ for people who need assistance exercising.

It will also be kitted out with multi-purpose recreation and fitness areas and rooms.

This includes Tag Active, a game-based indoor obstacle course, as well as a soft play area, studio spaces and a café and viewing area.

Sevenoaks council leader, Cllr Peter Fleming (Con), and Cllr Susan Coleman (Con) recently stopped off at the new centre so see how works were progressing.

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Construction company ISG has now installed all steelwork for the new £20m leisure complex with the roof, wall cladding and floor in place.

During the visit of councillors on Friday, tests were also carried out on the main swimming pool.

The project represents the district council's biggest capital project in 30 years and sits alongside other recent community investments.

Up to 40 apartments will also be attached to the site as part of the final phase, varying between one, two and three-bedroom flats.

At a recent community infrastructure board meeting, councillors also agreed funding for sports hall improvements at the nearby Orchards Academy.

In total, £158,000 is being spent at the secondary school in St Mary's Road to improve facilities and make them available to the public when the schools are not using them. Improvements include new flooring, roof insulation and redesign of the changing rooms.

The decision to knock down the more than 50-year-old building comes after it was deemed to be "reaching the end of its serviceable life" due to its age and condition.

But criticisms were levelled at the replacement leisure complex which was approved last year.

Some members of the existing centre were dissatisfied with the proposals which they said did not offer good value for money and could force some club members out. Sport England also outlined rejections to the plans.

Moves to offset the loss of some sports groups by upgrading and offering facilities at nearby Orchards Academy were slammed by one local councillor.

Speaking at the time, Cllr Sarah Andrews (Con) said: "The alternative here is older than White Oak and we have been told repeatedly it is past its sell by date."

Concerns were also raised it could prevent older people from accessing sport as the hall would only be available in the evenings.

But the council hit back at criticisms and urged residents and disaffected councillors to "see the bigger picture".

The council leader said the building had been "kept on life support" for five years and modern facilities were needed to encourage take up of sport.

Cllr Fleming, said: “We’re all really excited about the new centre and we cannot wait to offer Swanley residents a top-class, state of the art leisure facility.

"This is our biggest investment in a generation, when this project is completed, the community will have a leisure centre it can be really truly proud of.”

The current White Oak Leisure Centre is expected to reopen from April 12.

Subject to any further lockdown restrictions it will remain open until shortly before the new centre opens, scheduled for early 2022.

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