A new leisure, community and youth complex plus new homes in Preston move ever closer after the Council's Executive agreed to sell the current Banstead Leisure Centre site to Croudace Homes to help fund the development.

The Executive also agreed a budget of £11.85m for the Preston regeneration scheme, subject to approval by Full Council. The scheme is a joint venture with Surrey County Council. If agreed, contractors will be appointed to build the scheme in the new year.

The leisure complex off Merland Rise will feature a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool with disabled access, teaching pool, state-of-the-art 50-station gym, dance/exercise studio, four-court sports hall, four outdoor five-a-side football pitches, space for community activities, café, crèche, wet and dry changing rooms, a youth skills centre, parking and drop-off spaces.

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The budget also allows for improved basketball and trampolining facilities, improvements to Merland Rise Recreation Ground, and a new access road.

Councillor Adam De Save, Executive Member for Leisure, said: "This is a significant milestone towards building these fantastic new leisure facilities that local residents want and need. We look forward to being able to appoint a contractor in the new year once the tender process is complete and expect work to be underway by spring.

"One of the first changes will be for us to move the existing playground so it can continue to be used by local families. Once we've appointed a contractor we'll be able to give more detail about what will be happening and when."

(CD/JP)