A new leisure and community centre in Diss has moved a step closer after South Norfolk Council’s cabinet approved the funding needed to complete the scheme.

The planned facility will feature fitness provision, a flexible community room, a soft play area and a café with an outdoor plaza offering views across the Mere.

A planning application has been submitted and the proposals won the support of Diss Town Council at a public meeting earlier this month.

Councillor Kim Carsok said: "This is a really exciting step forward for this ambitious project. We would like to thank Diss Town Councillors for their support as we continue to invest in the health and wellbeing of the residents in the town.

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"We have listened to feedback and have made changes to our original plans following our very successful consultation with hundreds of responses. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to give us their ideas. Unfortunately, some suggestions were neither practical nor affordable, but it was fantastic to see that the vast majority of residents who took part in the consultation were in favour of our plans."

She added: "The funding to build the new leisure centre has now been agreed by Cabinet and the plans will go before the planning committee in April."

The project is being delivered in phases. Phase one upgraded the swimming pool changing area and removed the gym to create a dedicated Swim Centre, alongside energy-efficiency improvements including solar panels and air source heat pumps.

The gym is set to relocate to the new site, supported by a grant of more than £1 million from the Greater Norwich Growth Board. Phase two focuses on redeveloping the former John Grose site, just south of the town’s well-known Mere, which was purchased in 2024 following long-standing calls from residents for better leisure facilities.