A new two-pool leisure and fitness centre, to replace Forest Hill Pools on Dartmouth Road, has been approved by Lewisham Council Planning Committee.

The facility is Lewisham's fourth new leisure centre development to be approved in recent years. A new leisure complex was opened in Downham in 2007, and an additional 25-metre pool was opened at Wavelengths Leisure Centre in Deptford in 2008. A third leisure centre is currently being built in Lewisham Town Centre to replace the leisure facility at Ladywell.

A building contractor for the development is expected to be appointed before the end of the year and the Council aims to have the new leisure centre in public use by late 2012.

The new planning application for Forest Hill allows for the alteration, part demolition and refurbishment of the existing Forest Hill Pools building to provide a new pool and leisure centre behind the existing Victorian frontage which will be retained.

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The existing frontage will be refurbished to form the main entrance and reception to the building as well as providing a changing area on the first floor. The majority of the facilities will be provided in the proposed modern additions.

Facilities in the new building will include a 25-metre pool, a 16.7-metre learner pool, fitness gym, two studios, a community room and a café. The new development will include facilities and access for those people with disabilities. There will be disabled parking, bicycle and motorcycle parking and a drop-off area for vehicles.

Councillor Chris Best, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: "Lewisham is finally getting the first-class replacement leisure centre it deserves at Forest Hill.

"It has been a real challenge trying to find a design that can accommodate the many different needs of the local community. An absolute priority has been to make sure the new facility is fully accessible to everyone who chooses to use it but we have also had to work within tight budget constraints as well as the restrictions placed on us by the size and shape of the site.

"However, after a long and comprehensive period of consultation, combined with some serious thinking about the design and the cost, I think we have now achieved an excellent result. I want to say a huge thank you to the Forest Hill Pools Stakeholder Group and everyone else who has spent so much time and energy on this. We can now look forward to a first-class facility that can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come."

(CD)