By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A new state-of-the-art leisure centre in a Nottinghamshire town is edging closer to completion.
Work commenced last year on the Bingham Arena and Enterprise Centre, which is part of a £16m project to bring a leisure centre, community hall and office space to the town.
Planning permission was granted in April 2020 for the building, which are expected to complete in summer 2022.
Now, Rushcliffe Borough Council has applied to display an illuminated sign over the main entrance reading ‘Bingham Arena’ in Chapel Lane.
Two separate signs spelling ‘Bingham Enterprise Centre’ are also planned and will be discussed during the authority’s Planning Committee on February 10.
The leisure centre will feature a six lane swimming pool with spectator seating and a teaching pool, as well as a fitness centre, spin and exercise studios, café and a community hall with a capacity for 300 people.
The adjacent Bingham Enterprise Centre will host twelve office lets for small and growing businesses over two floors that the authority says could create up to 90 jobs.
Tenants at the Enterprise Centre will also be able to access help from a dedicated Business Support Advisor.
Sustainability is a focus of the project, with the use of efficient building materials, air source heat pumps, water efficiency measures and solar panels.
The measures mean that the buildings will have a 78 per cent carbon emission reduction compared to other leisure centres in the borough.
The project has been partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council Simon Robinson (Con) said in December: “It’s heartening to see a major project taking shape and on schedule for a wonderful new focal point for Bingham with leisure and office facilities the town can be proud of that have environmental priorities at heart.”
