PLANNING permission has been granted for the extension of a popular community owned leisure centre.

Launceston Leisure Centre, formerly known as Pheonix Leisure Centre at Coronation Park in the town applied to Cornwall Council seeking the extension and alterations to Launceston Leisure Centre, including the provision of a café and external seating area, together with the provision of a new entrance.

The operators behind the community owned leisure centre say they hope to begin construction of the new leisure centre extension within the next year, subject to the receiving of ‘dilapidation money’ from Cornwall Council, the proceeds of which will fund the centre.

In its planning submission, the applicant on behalf of the leisure centre said that proposals were intended to increase the attractions of the centre with the aim of boosting its profitability.

They noted that it was a popular destination but had limited facilities with the proposal intended to address the provision of a café along with an external but covered seating area which will offer views of the park and provide a venue for parents to sit and have a hot drink while watching over their children playing in the adjacent Coronation Park.

The new entrance, say the applicants, will improve the accessibility to the venue served by a direct link from the adjacent car park.

Launceston Town Council indicated it supported the application after scrutiny from its planning committee.

The proposal was approved by Cornwall Council subject to one additional condition, namely: “The development hereby permitted shall not commence until the installation of a system for the disposal of surface water on the site has been completed in accordance with the details which shall first have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

“The details shall include a programme for maintaining the system. The system shall be retained and maintained thereafter in accordance with the approved details. Reason: To avoid flooding and in the interests of water quality and the residential amenities of future occupiers, in accordance with the aims and intentions of policy 26 of the Cornwall Local Plan Strategic Policies 2010 - 2030 (adopted November 2016).

“A pre-commencement condition is necessary owing to the location of the site in a Critical Drainage Area where special consideration must be given to the disposal of surface water.”

Reacting to the news, Michael Davey, the businessman behind the community run leisure centre, said: “It is great news. We just need to sort the dilapidation money with the council and once this is through we can go out and get quotes for the work to be done. 

“We are not sure on the time scale yet but hope to be started within one year.”