New 10-year agreement for sport arena approved

Arena Sports is part of Kettering Leisure Village which was built in the early 1990s

A new 10-year agreement has been reached to ensure a sports facility remains open to the public.

North Northamptonshire Council's executive agreed on plans for the deal with the company that runs Arena Sports at Kettering Leisure Village.

Phoenix Leisure Management has run the site since 2023, when it was threatened with closure, and has now entered a new deal with the Reform UK-led authority.

Councillor Brian Benneyworth, executive member for health and leisure, said the agreement "secures community access to high-quality sports facilities for the next decade and protects it for future generations".

Facilities at the site include the arena sports hall, studio, sports lounge and cafe, the national volleyball centre and meeting rooms.

Several requirements, have been made in the new agreement including to opening hours.

As a minimum, it must be open between 09:00 and 22:00 on weekdays and between 09:00 and 17:00 at the weekend, similar to its current hours.

Council officers will also undertake quarterly monitoring meetings with Phoenix Leisure Management to review performance, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

As part of the agreement Phoenix Leisure Management will invest in the facilities, including refreshing paintwork, upgrading squash courts and the sports arena.

The council provides an annual grant to support the sports facilities, paying out £371,982 in 2024-25, with annual inflation of the contract capped at a maximum of 5%.

It is estimated that the total cost to the council over 10 years, if the grant increased by the maximum amount each year, would be £5.1m.