Progress on the Marple Leisure and Community Hub is progressing with the design phase, Stockport Council has announced. 

The council is putting a professional services team in place to help progress a 'detailed design'. Over the coming months, the council will also begin a community engagement process to help inform the forthcoming planning application.

"The engagement process will cover the final design of the Leisure and Community Hub itself, as well as walking, cycling and highways improvements to be delivered at the same time, all of which formed part of the funding bid", the council says. 

"Engagement will also be taking place on a wider scheme of highways improvements within Marple and this feedback will be used to inform future funding bids. 

"A significant amount of community engagement has previously taken place on the project and the intention is to build on this, but still allow residents, stakeholders and partners the opportunity to shape the project."

The project aims to generate footfall, jobs, and provide health facilities for residents of Marple and beyond (Image - Stockport Council)

The Hub project will deliver a new swimming pool, library, fitness studio, community spaces and new cycling and walking routes. The hub is a long-standing ambition of the local community after the former Marple Baths had to close five years ago.

It is hoped that a planning application will be submitted in Winter 2023, allowing for construction on the project to begin in Summer 2024 in line for opening in Winter 2025. 

Demolition works on the former pool building are also planned to take place, although the timeline for this is under development; it will be shared with residents in due course. This part of the project will be subject to a separate planning approval process.

The council also adds: "In addition, it is planned that the current library will relocate to a temporary facility prior to the main construction works starting. 

The hub will be funded by £20 million of Capital Levelling Up funding (Image - Stockport Council)

"Further announcements on the timing of this will be made in due course and will be linked to the timescale for construction of the new hub. During the build period, alternative library provision will be provided for Marple residents."

Cllr Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council, said: "This hub is going to make a huge, positive impact on the prosperity, health and wellbeing of the residents of Marple and the borough. 

"Marple has an older population but also has its share of social housing and is geographically isolated.

"This new hub will really help to address the increasing health inequalities in Marple, adding to people's quality of life, living longer and better and provide fabulous new facilities for the community."

The project will use sustainable materials, and aims to generate footfall, jobs, and attract people into Marple. It is funded by £20 million of Capital Levelling Up monies.

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