New Seaham and Chester-le-Street leisure centres unlikley to be built

Plans to build new facilities at Chester-le-Street and Seaham have been further cast in doubt after Durham County Council warned of a huge increase in estimated costs. 

The local authority approved proposals for the new-build sites in the towns in 2020 but has now all but scaled back its decision. 

Estimated costs for the new facilities in Chester-le-Street and Seaham have reportedly risen from £32 million in 2020 to an estimated combined cost of £52.7 million.

The former Civic Centre site in Chester-le-Street was chosen three years ago alongside plans to create a hybrid site at Deneside and St John’s Square in Seaham. 

Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre (Image: The Northern Echo) But while progress on other sites in the county has advanced, including a new site in Bishop Auckland, the two projects have stalled. 

The council allocated £10 million for improvements to the two sites in February but a review found improvements across both sites would be unaffordable given the buildings’ condition.

“Given the age of the facilities and likely requirement for emergency or essential works to maintain operations, the £10 million allocated will remain ringfenced for this purpose,” a report said. 

“Although regenerated and/or new centres remain very much part of future consideration, we can only deliver on these intentions as and when finances and funding allow and make it prudent and responsible to do so.”

The hybrid site option for Seaham was previously discounted due to the car parking issues, utility risks, and the constrained nature of the site which presented “excessive risk to a development”. 

Seaham Leisure Centre (Image: Google)

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Councillor James Rowlandson, cabinet member for resources, investments and assets, previously warned the council is facing “unprecedented financial pressures”.

He told a February meeting: “These improvements will be focused on making a positive difference to  customers, enhance the facilities and ensure the centres are structurally and mechanically sound going forward.”

Cabinet members are due to discuss the latest updates to the leisure transformation programme at a meeting on Wednesday, September 18.