South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) has given the go-ahead for the first phase to develop multi-million pound leisure facilities in Ulverston.

The council approved the latest milestone on the journey towards replacing the ageing facilities at Priory Road, run by leisure provider GLL on behalf of SLDC.

Phase one will include relocating three football pitches, the crown green bowling green and an informal running route from the GSK site, releasing land for potential future employment use, as well as remodelling the indoor tennis centre and additions to changing facilities.

This is estimated to cost in the region of £2million and will be enabled by a financial contribution from GSK, with work taking 12 to 15 months to complete once started on site.

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Councillor Robin Ashcroft, portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: "I am delighted that work can start on phase 1 of this massively exciting project, which will have wide-ranging benefits for Ulverston and the district as a whole – securing top-class facilities to promote participation in active lifestyles and promoting club and volunteer opportunities, as well as reducing health inequalities, but also potentially improving employment prospects by enabling the release and repurposing land at GSK for business use.

"Developing phases 2 and 3 will require a great deal of further work over the coming months and years but South Lakeland District Council is committed to continuing that development work and ensuring first-rate leisure facilities in Ulverston for many years to come."

Further project development work is required before phases 2 and 3 can be progressed.

Phase 2 would include: the provision of a new 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool adjoining the tennis centre, car parking remodelling, and further internal work to the tennis centre, with an estimated cost of £5.4m.

Two courts in the tennis centre would continue to be exclusively used for tennis, one court would be repurposed as a multi-sport sports hall, capable of continued use for tennis as required, and one court would be repurposed as a 60-station gym facility with studio.

Phase 3 would include refurbishment of the existing all-weather hockey pitch and refurbishment of the outdoor tennis courts, with an estimated cost of £300,000.