New Harpenden sport and arts centre exhibition
Come and see how the designs for the new leisure and cultural facilities being developed in Harpenden have been improved following a public consultation.
St Albans City and District Council has revised the designs for the scheme in preparation for the submission of a planning application in September.
The Council is planning to transform Harpenden Swimming Pool into a leisure centre suitable for various sports and turn the sports centre into a modern cultural centre. The facilities will serve people in Harpenden, Redbourn, Wheathampstead and the surrounding area.
The new designs will go on display at Park Hall, Harpenden on Tuesday 15 August, from 4pm to 8pm. The architects and members of the Council’s project team will be available to discuss the plans.
The designs will then be transferred to Harpenden Public Halls where they will be on public display from Wednesday 16 August to Monday 31st August.
If you are unable to visit the public exhibition, you can access the designs on the Council’s website at www.stalbans.gov.uk/harpendenleisure from 15 August.
The Council has already consulted stakeholders on the concept designs through briefing sessions and a charrette-style design workshop, and invited the public to complete a scheme questionnaire.
The plans now incorporate the following ideas put forward by the public:
• a larger learner pool than originally proposed (it is three times the size of the current learner pool)
• a balcony in the main hall of the cultural centre to provide additional seating (bringing the total number of seats to more than 500)
• a longer main bar area in the cultural centre to better cater for demand for refreshments during larger events
• a ramp and bridge entrance to allow for easy access to the new cultural facilities
• a new multi-purpose room in the cultural centre that can be used as a small cinema
Cllr Annie Brewster, Sports and Culture Portfolio Holder for at St Albans City and District Council said: “I want to thank the community for contributing these great ideas to help improve the designs for the proposed leisure and cultural facilities. The proposed modern leisure and cultural facilities will offer the people of Harpenden and the surrounding area fantastic amenities to enjoy for years to come.”
The scheme’s net budget has also been increased from £18m to £18.8m following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 25.
Cllr Julian Daly, Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development at St Albans City and District Council, said: “The public’s ideas will help generate additional revenue, so Cabinet has agreed an invest to save case to increase the scheme’s budget to fund the improved features.”
More information about the planned redevelopment of leisure, arts and cultural facilities for Harpenden is available at www.stalbans.gov.uk/harpendenleisure.
The papers for the meeting on Tuesday 25 July are published on the Council’s website.
The Cabinet meeting was also webcast and can be watched on the Council’s website at: https://stalbans.public-i.tv/core/portal/home
Councillor contacts:
Cllr Annie Brewster, Sports and Culture Portfolio Holder for at St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01438 832255
Email: cllr.a.brewster@stalbans.gov.uk
Cllr Julian Daly, Portfolio Holder for Commercial and Development at St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 07775 657200
Email: cllr.j.daly@stalbans.gov.uk
Media contact:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Senior Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
Photos:
Architect’s impressions of the proposed cultural centre (top) and the proposed sport and leisure centre.