Plans have been submitted for the creation of a leisure centre on part of the former Kingsmead School in Hoylake.
It would see the existing swimming pool and three classrooms on Carlton Lane refurbished and converted into a salt water pool with a wellness suite and gym, changing rooms, cafe and car parking.
The school closed in 2020 during the pandemic due to financial issues, and a plan to open a free school in partnership with educational provider Oasis was abandoned last year.
In recent years, parts of the site have been used by occupants including a disability charity, art studios and a nursery school.
The planning application states: “The proposal seeks to create a new recreational and wellness facility will create a new and vibrant business for the area, looking to employ people for swimming, fitness, leisure and café…strengthening the town centre’s services and community facilities.
“The facility will also provide a range of services and upgrade the existing buildings to be more socially inclusive.
It adds: “Kingsmead Leisure is excited at the opportunity to develop the existing facility into a new swimming, fitness and cafe at Kingsmead, along with onsite, private parking.
“As a company they aim to offer a 5-star experience from swimming, fitness, wellbeing, and nutrition alongside offering
pool time for community groups.”
The site of the proposed new leisure facility
The plan to convert the pool to salt water would make it one of just a few facilities of its type in the north west, and the wellness and fitness studios would be made available for personal training, yoga and Pilates sessions.
An on-site café, Nemo’s, would be created for use before and after classes.
It is planned for the facility to be open from 6am – 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 7am – 9:30pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
The application states: “The proposals will seek to enhance safety and security along Carlton Lane, with the introduction of a more active and used frontage onto the lane, security and feature lighting, and more animated use of the buildings.
“Cycling and walking will be encouraged and provisions will be created to support this.”
The application can be found at https://online.wirral.gov.uk/planning/index.html?fa=getApplication&id=231262
