Council seeks new group to take on leisure centre

A long term lease, starting in April, is being offered for St Mary's Community and Leisure Centre

Local groups and charities are being asked to come forward to run a city's community and leisure centre.

Southampton City Council is looking for a new organisation to lease St Mary's Community and Leisure Centre.

The centre closed in December 2021 but reopened following a campaign to save it by residents on August 2022 and is currently managed by charity, Active Nation.

The council said it was looking to lease the Grade II listed building at a low cost for a long term, starting in April.

The authority said the building would remain wholly owned by Southampton City Council.

It currently has a gym, badminton and squash courts, activity rooms and a hall for hire.

Lorna Fielker, leader of the Labour-run council, said: "St Mary's Community and Leisure Centre is a much loved and much needed community building that means a lot to the local community and groups who use it.

"This marks and exciting new chapter in the history of the building which will benefit the local community".

The council added the roof would be fixed and the building improved "into a safe state for a community organisation to take it on and develop their own exciting plans".

Applications must be submitted to the council by 2 March.