Articles

New multi million pound leisure centre for Carlton takes a step closer

Date Posted: 4:49 PM on Thu, 25 September 2025

Options for a new leisure centre and community hub in Carlton have been approved by Gedling Borough Council’s Cabinet, marking a significant step forward in the Council’s ambition to invest and improve health and community provision in the borough.

Cabinet Members were asked to approve further feasibility work for the Carlton Active project, which proposes a state-of-the-art multi-use facility on the site of the existing Richard Herrod Centre. The new centre would replace both the Richard Herrod Centre and also Carlton Forum Leisure Centre, which is currently located on an education site not owned by the Council. The Carlton Forum site would not close until the new facility is open.

In May, the Council launched a public consultation to gather residents’ views on the proposals. More than 1,400 people responded, with the overwhelming majority supporting the development of a new leisure centre in Carlton.

The proposed centre could include an 8-lane swimming pool and teaching pool, a 100-station gym and assisted exercise suite, studios, community rooms, a café, and a soft play centre. The recommended option does not include indoor bowls provision due to the proposed significant additional cost of providing a bowls provision at the new centre. The Council has committed to working closely with Gedling Indoor Bowls Club, which currently uses the Richard Herrod Centre, to explore alternative options.

The proposals follow an extensive strategic review of leisure facilities across Gedling. The review identified the need for two new centres, in Arnold and Carlton, to meet the demands of a growing population and to modernise ageing infrastructure. The report to Cabinet highlighted that a new centre in Carlton could significantly reduce the annual cost to taxpayers, generate income for the council and lower carbon emissions by replacing inefficient buildings. A new facility in Arnold would be subject to a separate business case and cabinet report.

As part of the wider leisure strategy, the Council will also consult residents about the future running and ongoing operation of two centres, Redhill and Calverton, that are not under the ownership of the Council. The findings from the strategy recommends the Council works with partners to explore alternative ways to run these facilities located on education sites.

A consultation must take place to hear the views of residents to inform any potential decision by the Council to withdraw from the management of the centres at Redhill and Calverton at a future date. A formal withdrawal notice would allow the Council to begin talks with local partners to look at options to secure the future of the centres.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE, said:

"This is an incredible opportunity to create much-needed improvements to our leisure provision in Carlton. This will be a significant investment by the Council to create a centre that will be used for decades to come and help support people’s health and wellbeing across the borough. I am incredibly excited about the potential of this project and the impact it could have on our residents. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the survey, and people have been clear—they want this.

We, of course, must address the other impacts that this could have, but we are making these decisions based on the long-term needs of all our residents, and we will work with those who are affected, including Gedling Indoor Bowls Club. We will also work alongside our partners to find new ways to protect leisure facilities across the Borough for many years to come. This is a really positive step and it shows our commitment to improving the lives of residents across Gedling."

Cabinet Members met on Thursday 25 September to discuss the proposals and approve recommendations for the next steps for the Carlton Active project