25th June 2007
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea announce a £700K refurbishment of the Chelsea Sports Centre

Leisure users in the south of the Borough will be pleased to learn that the Council is to carry out an extensive refurbishment of Chelsea Sports Centre.

The work, which will see major improvements made to the swimming pool area and better access for disabled people, will cost the Council in the region of £700,000, subject to capital expenditure.

Users of the sports centre on Chelsea Manor Street, SW3, will have noticed that the Council, in conjunction with its leisure partner Cannons, has already started on the improvements, with air new conditioning being installed in the gym and dance studio.

Now, the Council is set to reline the pool, retile its surrounds and refurbish the changing rooms. Upgraded ventilation air handling systems units will also be installed in the changing rooms and the pool hall and a lift will be put in to make access easier to the sports hall for disabled people. The Council will also be carrying out improvements to the spectator balcony that overlooks the swimming pool.

Chelsea Baths opened to the public in April 1907. The original features consisted of two swimming pools, ninety slipper baths, a laundry and an apartment for the Baths Superintendent. Since then the centre has undergone substantial change. In 1962 the changing cubicles around the pools were removed and the site laundry was converted into the downstairs changing rooms. In 1978 one of the two pools was converted into the Sports Hall and in 1982 a learner pool was constructed. A gymnasium was added in 1983 and the changing rooms refurbished in 1985. The gym area was extended in 1988 along with the construction of a new foyer and health Suite. New plant was installed in 1990.

In 1993 the Centre underwent further major refurbishment; a new entrance foyer and reception was added, the health suite and all the slipper baths except one were removed to provide a larger gym, a dance studio and two sun-bed rooms.

The changing rooms underwent further refurbished in 2000 and the two sun-bed rooms were converted into a single Pilates Studio in 2006.

The fitness facilities will remain open while the work takes place although the swimming pool will be closed for 12 weeks and the sports hall for four weeks from 23 July while they are being refurbished. The Council hopes that all the improvements will be completed by the autumn.

Swimming will be available at Kensington Leisure Centre while Chelsea Sports Centre pool is closed. Contact the Kensington Leisure Centre on 020 7727 9747.