SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has approved a £3.6million plan to redevelopment Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

The authority’s communities committee, which met on Wednesday, November 4, approved major expansion plans including a 17-adventure climbing experience, enhanced soft play and party rooms, bigger group exercise studios, a new 12-station toning suite and 20 more stations in the existing fitness suite.

The redevelopment will also focus on improving customer experience and sustainability with other changes including 130 additional parking spaces, refurbished changing areas and a café extension.

Committee chairman Cllr Heather Goddard (Con, Hanham) said: “The agreed re-development of Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre is very good news for existing and potential new users of the centre customers who will benefit from improved facilities and more choice of activities.

“It will allow the centre to meet new demand in the future and reflects our commitment to encouraging active lifestyles.”

She added: “We are pleased to be able to make these improvements which will expand what the centre offers and ‘grows’ the business, rather than cuts back.

“We recognise there will be some inevitable disruption during the works and the loss of the squash courts in the new design. But we believe that the new-look centre will provide better choices across all age ranges and increase customer use.

“We will be working with the local squash players affected in the coming weeks to help them find alternative sites where they can continue to enjoy their sport.”

Councillors agreed to the plans to help meet demand from new housing in the area including 2,500 homes being built at Lyde Green near Emerson’s Green.

Mark Crutchley, chief executive of Circadian Trust which runs South Gloucestershire’s leisure centres, said: “The redevelopment will bring a wealth of new activities to the area that we believe will increase the numbers of people taking part in physical activity locally.

“Work is planned to start in spring 2016 and we hope the public will join our excitement in anticipating a new look for Bradley Stokes Leisure Centre.”