Green light given for sports centre
Councillors unanimously approve college design
The council has unanimously approved plans for a new sports centre at Eton College.
Planning permission was originally granted for a new Eton Sports and Aquatic Centre (ESAC) and a new School Sports Centre (SSC) in 2019.
The first ESAC phase of the project – the redevelopment of the former indoor swimming pool and existing squash courts – is open and in use and the College is now proceeding with the second phase.
The original planning permission envisaged the whole-scale demolition of existing buildings and their replacement, but due to escalating building costs and affordability, the phase two proposal was revisited and has since been subdivided.
At a Windsor and Ascot Development Management Committee meeting at York House on Thursday, February 8, councillors heard the amended application for the part alteration and part demolition of the Eton College gymnasium and indoor swimming pool complex.
The redevelopment is a new indoor sports centre with a six-court sports hall, eight squash courts, an Athletic Development Programme (‘ADP’) facility, fitness and physio suites, a climbing wall, a dojo, fencing salle, a cafe, changing rooms, teaching room, an office, storage facilities and the retention of a rifle range.
The proposal replaces some ‘existing undistinguished buildings’ and increases the floor area by 1,268 sq.m compared to the existing facilities.
John Bowles, director at Savills and planning agent for the application said this last phase would deliver a ‘much-needed modern expanded indoor sports facilities for school use’ and the College intends to commence the construction this summer.
He said the revised scheme was described by a former borough conservation officer as ‘better than the original’ by delivering the sports space within ‘smaller building footprints’,a ‘significantly reduced’ carbon footprint, positively advancing the ‘character and appearance of the conservation area’ and ‘reducing the impact on the flood zone’.
Councillor Carole Da
Costa (WWRA, Clewer and Dedworth West) added: “We’re not very often happy to see inflation and cost go up but this might be one of the cases where we’ve ended up with a slightly better proposal due to that.”
Councillor Julian Tisi (Lib Dem, Eton and Castle) also said: “I’m struggling to see the negatives.
“Flooding is a key concern, but this appears to be slightly better than what we had before. Conservation is the other, especially for Eton, it is a beautiful town, and we want to keep the surroundings that way
“It was good to hear that the previous [proposal] was outstanding and this was even better.”
The motion was proposed by Cllr Tisi and seconded by Cllr Da Costa with all councillors in attendance voting unanimously in favour.