Portsmouth's Mountbatten Leisure Centre repairs to cost millions, council says

The work is expected to take a year to complete

Millions of pounds will be spent on a project to make "vital" repairs to a leisure centre, an authority has said.

Essential roof and plant work, costing Portsmouth City Council £6.6m, will begin at Mountbatten Leisure Centre in November.

The original section of the roof was built in the 1980s and the plant equipment and structure are no longer sustainable.

The facility's sports hall will be temporarily closed until summer 2024.

The leisure centre in Hilsea is managed by both BH Live and Portsmouth City Council but the work is being funded by Portsmouth City Council alone.

Council leader Steve Pitt said it was vital to carry out the upgrades in order for the facility to continue to operate."We're providing the funding for the works at Mountbatten Centre because we're committed to providing this much-needed health and wellbeing facility for our residents, in line with our vision for people to live healthy, happy lives," he added.

Portsmouth City Council said the repairs were agreed in its 2023/24 capital budget, as one of four key investments.Activities which usually take place in the sports hall will be relocated to other areas of the centre and at neighbouring locations where possible.

The rest of the leisure centre, including the car park, gym, swimming pools, classes and cafe, will all be open and running as usual.

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