Bridge Park Centre Redevelopment Costs Soar

The cost of redeveloping Bridge Park Leisure and Community Centre in Stonebridge has increased substantially, according to Brent Council. The project, initially budgeted at £50m in 2019 for two phases, now sees Phase 1 alone estimated at £53.5m. The cost escalation is attributed to rising construction industry expenses driven by national and international events, as well as a clearer understanding of site and building constraints, as stated in council documents.

Funding and Future Facilities

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To finance the redevelopment, the council is seeking approval to allocate £39m from Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funds. This represents a significant use of SCIL, which will reduce the amount available for other projects. An additional £2.5m is planned through borrowing, which is expected to incur approximately £250,000 in additional costs to revenue budgets, to be covered by existing surpluses. Council officers are also exploring alternative funding streams, including potential contributions from Sport England and increased revenue from land sales, which could lessen the reliance on SCIL.

The revised plans for the new leisure centre include enhanced facilities, such as a 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool, a teaching pool, a fitness suite, a four-court sports hall, exercise studios, steam and sauna rooms, and modern changing facilities, alongside a café.

Community and Heritage Concerns

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The proposed redevelopment has been a source of controversy, particularly due to the centre's historical significance to London's Black community, having once been Europe's largest Black-led community enterprise. A campaign by the Harlesden People’s Community Council (HPCC) to have the centre designated a national heritage site concluded without success in December last year, following a decision by Historic England and the secretary of state for culture, media and sport. An appeal against this decision is ongoing, but the original decision not to list the building remains in effect.

Cabinet members Cllr Matt Kelcher and Cllr Liz Dixon acknowledged the centre's role in Black British history and the community's efforts in establishing it in the 1980s. They stated a commitment to ensuring this history is celebrated within the new development, while emphasising the council's need to provide future-proofed leisure facilities to improve residents' health and activity levels in an area identified with significant health and deprivation needs.

Project Timeline

The wider Hillside Regeneration Corridor project, of which the Bridge Park redevelopment is a part, includes the construction of over 1,000 new homes, a hotel, public park, and retail space. Demolition of the existing centre is planned, with construction of the new facility expected to commence on site in April 2028. The cost and scope of Phase 2, which involves a new adult education and community building, are yet to be announced.