FOREST HILL: Plans for new leisure centre approved (From News Shopper)

FOREST HILL: Plans for new leisure centre approved

1:11pm Thursday 29th July 2010 in

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PLANS for a new leisure centre featuring a 25m swimming pool, a gym and a cafe have been approved by a council.

Lewisham Council's planning committee gave the go-ahead for the complex in Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, in a meeting on July 22.

Louise House, a former girls’ industrial home next to the old pools building, was due to be demolished as part of Lewisham Council’s planned redevelopment of the site in Dartmouth Road.

But over the last two years campaigners have fought hard to preserve the building's Victorian facade.

After English Heritage gave the building a Grade II listing, the council was forced to abandon plans for turning the space into housing.

Its new plans for a leisure centre featuring a 16.7m learner pool, disabled parking, bicycle/motorcycle parking and a vehicle drop-off area were showcased in March and have now been approved.

It is hoped the new facility will be open to the public in late 2012.