golden lane leisure centre

golden lane leisure centre refurbishment

The City of London Corporation owns and commissions the operation of the Golden Lane Leisure Centre (the Centre). The Centre was built in the late 1950s as part of the Golden Lane Estate and is the only local authority leisure offer in the Square Mile. It was refurbished by the City Corporation in 2012 and is now subject to a new refurbishment project funded by a £10.35 million allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy funds. As with the wider estate, the Centre is a Grade II listed building in recognition of its architecture and historical value. The listing covers the structure and its use in relation to the swimming pool and sports hall.

– NOVEMBER 2025 | Golden Lane Leisure Centre – Update

leisure centre to close end of april | residents start petition

1 APRIL: Fusion Lifestyle, operator of Golden Lane Sports and Fitness, announce that they are entering administration and would be ceasing operations on 30 April. In their communications with GLERA on the same day, the Corporation disclose that as a result the leisure centre would close 30 April and state that: “The leisure centre’s current condition combined with the short time frame before the planned closure in December, meant no financially viable alternative to closure could be identified.”
SEE POST

save golden lane leisure centre

7 APRIL: In response Golden Lane Residents started a petition calling on the Corporation to:

Urgently explore all options to keep the centre open on an interim basis before 30 April – including community-led, trust-based, or directly managed operation
Publish the full timeline of decision-making: when the City knew Fusion was in difficulty, what alternatives were explored, and who made the final call to close
Confirm in writing the guaranteed start and completion dates for renovation works
Commit in writing that the leisure centre will reopen after renovation, and to what standard
Provide interim alternative leisure provision for residents for the duration of any closure
Hold a public meeting with Golden Lane Estate residents within 14 days [21 April]

For more info on the campaign see SAVE Golden Lane Leisure Centre

SIGN THE PETITION SAVE GOLDEN LANE LEISURE CENTRE

latest CoL press release

10 APRIL

LOCAL LEISURE ACCESS SECURED FOR GOLDEN LANE USERS

Alternative access to leisure facilities secured within a 10‑minute walk of centre

Existing memberships honoured for 12 months at no extra cost to members

City Corporation will cover any additional costs to protect members

Residents who use Golden Lane Leisure Centre will continue to have access to high‑quality leisure facilities close to home, after a deal was struck with a London-based leisure operator. The City of London Corporation has confirmed all existing members will be able to use Finsbury Leisure Centre and Ironmonger Row Baths, both operated for Islington Council by the charitable social enterprise GLL and both within a 10‑minute walk of Golden Lane.

The centre is closing at the end of the month, earlier than expected ahead of a major £10.4 million refurbishment by the City Corporation, after operator Fusion Lifestyle, went into administration. Under the transition arrangements, existing Golden Lane memberships will be honoured for 12 months. Any additional costs from this arrangement to GLL, which operates under the trading name Better, will be met by the City Corporation.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee Helen Fentimen said:

“The enforced early closure of Golden Lane Leisure Centre was disappointing for everyone, but our priority has been to make sure residents can continue to enjoy high‑quality leisure provision close to their homes. By working with GLL and Islington Council, we’ve been able to secure local alternative facilities, protect existing memberships for a year, and support the continuation of key programmes wherever possible. This is about doing everything we can to support our community through an unexpected situation, while we invest in the long‑term future of Golden Lane.”

The tennis courts at Golden Lane will remain open while the rest of the complex is closed. Meanwhile, GLL will work closely with the City Corporation to accommodate as many existing programmes and user groups as possible, subject to availability – including swimming clubs, older people’s activities, SEND sessions and fitness classes.

GLL is one of the UK’s largest charitable leisure operators and runs over 100 facilities across London. It will continue to work with City Corporation officers to ensure a smooth transition for members and clubs, with further details shared directly with users as arrangements are confirmed.

More information is available at https://tinyurl.com/4wackdks

– Newsroom City of London

READ RESPONSE from Save Golden Lane Leisure Centre.

press

21 APRIL City of London made decision to close leisure centre 5 weeks before public announcement
MyLondon | Ben Lynch

13 APRIL London leisure centre users can access other sites during closure – warning groups ‘not served well’
MyLondon | Ben Lynch

10 APRIL A sports and fitness centre built within a housing estate in the 1950’s could be closing for good, according to residents
ITN London News | Jay Akbar

10 APRIL Local leisure access secured for Golden Lane users
Newsroom City of London (press release)

9 APRIL London estate ‘will have its heart ripped out’ with leisure centre closure
MyLondon | Ben Lynch

8 APRIL Golden Lane Leisure Centre to close earlier than expected
EC1 Echo | Ben Lynch

6 APRIL Golden Lane Leisure Centre to close earlier than planned
London Daily Digital | Ben Lynch

2 APRIL 2026 Central London leisure centre to close after operator enters administration
MyLondon | Ben Lynch

12 DECEMBER 2024 Golden Lane Leisure Centre set for £10.4million refurbishment
Newsroom City of London (press release)

4 NOVEMBER 2024 Leisure Centre in iconic Grade-II listed London estate awarded £10.35m for refurbishment
MyLondon | Ben Lynch

refurbishment options | presentation to committee

Community & Children’s Services Committee
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2025
Agenda item 5: Presentation on the Golden Lane Leisure Centre

Watch from 2:50; presentation starts 4:11.

2:50 | Simon Cribbens, Assistant Director – Commissioning and Partnerships
We have a paper in the non-public section of gateway to report options report for a formal decision on the proposed or preferred option for the technical design of the refurbishment at Golden Lane Leisure Centre. However, I thought it’d be really helpful to have in public session a presentation from the architects and our partners developing it so that you can see the design options. They can talk through the process that we’ve undertaken to get to this point and the logic and the factors that underpin our recommendation around the preferred design…

3:46 | …The reason why the gateway is in non-public is it includes some financials that would be pertinent to the contractor cost for the development and the operator cost, so that’s in non-public for that reason. But we want to be as open transparent with our thinking around the options as possible.

– (auto-generated transcript provided by YouTube, with minor corrections and tidying up)

The Project Team recommended option 2C which would mean the loss of the badminton court / multi-use sports hall. Final decision was made in non-public. See full transcript of presentation and Q+A HERE.

DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION

committee reports

other useful reports

Golden Lane Sports & Fitness Engagement Survey 2025 | Active Insight
JUNE 2025

Response to the City Of London’s Consultation on the Refurbishment of the Golden Lane Leisure Centre | Barbican and Golden Lane Neighbourhood Forum
MARCH 2025

Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy | City of London
2024-2028

A Sport Strategy for the Square Mile | City of London Corporation
2023-2030

report excerpts

16 MARCH 2026 | Community and Children’s Services Committee
Agenda item 17

Restricted: Report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services + Report of the Town Clerk
Discussions held in private, no public minutes.

28 JANUARY 2026 | Community and Children’s Services Committee
Agenda item 5

Presentation – Golden Lane Centre Refurbishment

MINUTES
The Committee received a presentation from the project architects and delivery partners on the proposed refurbishment of the Golden Lane Leisure Centre, intended to provide Members with an overview of the design options ahead of the Gateway decision in non-public session. The Committee was presented with two primary options: Option 2 (the recommended option), which included an £8.61m refurbishment and wellness proposal replacing the sports hall and studio with an expanded fitness gym, delivering a revenue surplus and stronger strategic alignment, and Option 3, an £8.52m refurbishment-only scheme which retains the sports hall, but modelling suggest would operate at a revenue deficit.

Members raised several questions relating to the impact of the proposals. A Member queried the rationale behind the two primary options being presented and was informed that the options had been developed through detailed site analysis, heritage assessment, stakeholder engagement, and modelling of both operational need and financial performance.

Several Members expressed concern about the potential loss of the multi-use sports hall under Option 2 and emphasised the hall’s value for community and children’s activities. While acknowledging these concerns, officers advised that the hall’s usage was currently limited and that alternative local provision would be explored for displaced users, which included badminton groups. It was further noted that independent specialist modelling indicated that retaining the existing facility mix would result in an ongoing revenue deficit, whereas reconfiguring the space to increase the fitness and studio offer would provide a more sustainable financial model, reducing pressure on City Fund resources, alongside more flexible space.

A Member sought assurance that the design would ensure privacy for women and particular cultural groups using the swimming pool. Officers confirmed that solutions such as integrated blinds and adaptable screening were being incorporated into the design to support women-only and culturally sensitive sessions.

Responding to a query around the provision of dedicated group changing facilities, particularly for school and children’s groups, officers advised that while the pool changing areas would be upgraded, spatial constraints limited the introduction of additional large dry side changing areas. However, it was confirmed that accessibility improvements and limited dry side facilities adjacent to the activity spaces were being considered.

A Member asked whether the refurbishment would impact the pool hall or reduce the size of the swimming pool. In response, officers confirmed that the pool hall was Grade II listed and no changes to the pool’s footprint or heritage fabric were proposed.

Members questioned the reliance on financial modelling that suggested a future surplus under the preferred option. Officers advised that the modelling had been undertaken by the Sports Consultancy, which used industry standard assumptions regarding public sector leisure operation.

A Member raised concerns about future management of the facility and the need for improved operational performance. Officers confirmed that a new operator procurement process was underway and that expectations around performance would be included in the new contract.

In response to questions on consultation, officers confirmed that targeted engagement had taken place with resident groups and existing users and that more extensive consultation would continue as the project progressed.

It was clear that several members felt uncomfortable about the way the options decision was being presented to them. Watch the meeting (with transcript) HERE.

10 NOVEMBER 2025 | Community and Children’s Services Committee
Agenda Item 8

Golden Lane Leisure Centre – Update

MINUTES
The Committee received a report of the Executive Director of Community and Children’s Services, concerning an update on the project to refurbish the Golden Lane Leisure Centre, and a decision on the preferred approach to energy supply. It was noted to the Committee that the achievement of future energy needs was subject to approval by the Resource Allocation Sub Committee for allocation of Carbon Offset S106 funding.

A Member raised a query on whether the consultation on the Golden Lane Leisure Centre would include transportation and access to the Centre for users. The response was that transportation to the Centre was not included in the refurbishment, and if it was required, this would be considered in the operator contract which would need agreement from the Committee for additional funding. Access to the existing Leisure Centre were part of the refurbishment plans. The consultation primarily focused on the design of the Leisure Centre the facilities, use, and to weigh the appetite of its future users.

The study of the running costs of the Citigen network option were analysed against the use of gas boilers and other low carbon options. While it would not necessarily be a lower cost, it was comparatively lower than other low carbon options. There were plans to de-carbonise the Citigen network which could impact upon running costs in the long term. There were additional costs to connect to the Citigen network, and thus the request for the Carbon Offset S106 funding. The recommendation was also consistent with the City Corporation’s environmental policies.

RESOLVED: – that Members of the Community and Children’s Services Committee:

Note the report and issues set out.

Approve the recommendation that the future energy needs of the Centre are met through connection to the Citigen network, noting that the achievement of this will still be subject to approval by the Resource Allocation Sub Committee for the allocation of Carbon Offset S106 funding.

The report also contains useful information about the multi-disciplinary team:

CURRENT POSITION – REFURBISHMENT
3. Members have approved the refurbishment project at Gateway 1 and 2 of the City Corporation’s capital project governance. This has enabled award of a ‘Pre Construction Service Agreement’ to Alliance Leisure. This stage of work will progress the design elements of the refurbishment project – including securing planning consent. The work will deliver to the City Corporation and Members a fully costed technical design. Members will be asked to approve the proposals at this stage in order to progress the commencement of capital works.

4. Alliance Leisure has established a multi-disciplinary design team, including architects Faulkner Brown. The team includes specialist consultants in heritage, planning, mechanical and electrical, structural and health safety. City Corporation representation includes Community and Children’s Services Comisisoning and Housing teams, Commercial Services and the Energy Team.

5. Delivery is supported by specialist project managers (Hadron) and a Project Board on which the Department’s Director of Commissioning and Partnerships is the senior City Corporation representative.

6. The preliminary design development is exploring two design options – one a fully refurbed version of the current configuration, the second introduces a “wellness offer” (spa etc). These high-level options will be the subject of consultation and engagement with stakeholders – including current Centre users and the local community of potential users. Both will be costed and modelled for revenue projections to help inform decision making. It should be noted that planning and heritage implications may impact on the viability and permissibility of any changes that could not demonstrate a robust case in terms of sporting needs and benefit.

7. Consultation and engagement with stakeholders will be led by the Housing Division’s commissioned communications consultant Concilio, to ensure a consistency and coherence of approach, especially in terms of residents of Golden Lane who will be subject to consultation of a range of major works on the estate.

8. A revised approach to the City Corporation’s project governance should enable decisions that would previously be taken at Gateways 3, 4 and 5 to be condensed into a single stage approval gateway reporting to fewer committees.

9. Members of this committee will be given the opportunity to decide the favoured design option at an interim stage, so this single chosen approach can be subject to full technical design and costing. This stage will allow members to explore the range of detailed issues and questions in relation to the design.

10. The indicative project timeline envisages a start on site in October 2026. However, there are several interdependencies that could change this – notably whether the processes for planning consent and other governance decisions are extended.

11. Alliance Leisure, in partnership with the City Corporation, is undertaking a (nonbinding) market competition to identify a principal contractor for the delivery of the refurbishment, to assess for value for money and quality. The process will also ensure a contractor has been identified in advance of final decision-making to support progress (or not) of delivery.

– Simon Cribbens, Director – Commissioning & Partnerships

19 JUNE 2025 | Community and Children’s Services Committee
Agenda item 11

Management Options and Engagement Report

MINUTES
The Committee received a report of the Executive Director, Community & Children’s Services concerning the future Golden Lane Leisure Centre (GLLC) management contract. The current contract ends on 31 March 2026 and a period of refurbishment at the centre will follow.

It was proposed that a competitive tender process be undertaken to secure the future management of GLLC. The process will aim to secure the most advantageous arrangement for the Corporation in terms of both quality of service and commercial terms. The process would also allow for the development of an internally led bid to be assessed alongside external submissions. It was noted that Members of the Sports Sounding Board had suggested exploring a quasi-internal bid from one of the Corporation’s natural environment charities, such as Hampstead Heath, which already manages sports facilities and could benefit from charitable tax relief.

Concerns were raised by a Member regarding the performance of the current contract. Officers acknowledged issues but noted the challenges arising from the deterioration of the centre, and several short term contract extension leading to lack of long-term certainty for the provider. Officers acknowledged these issues and emphasised that the new contract would include more robust KPIs and allow for enforcement mechanisms.

Members stressed the importance of ensuring that future arrangements include enforceable standards and protections for community use. Officers confirmed that the new contract would be developed in consultation with Members, particularly through the Sports Sounding Board, to ensure that specifications reflect the needs of users and provide appropriate safeguards.

The Committee endorsed the proposed approach to outsourcing the management of the centre, including the option for a hybrid or internal bid to be evaluated alongside external tenders.

RESOLVED – That, the report be noted.

30 APRIL 2025 | Community and Children’s Services Committee
Agenda Item 13

Golden Lane Leisure Centre Refurbishment Update

BACKGROUND
1. Following the completion of a range of condition surveys and a forward maintenance plan, the need for significant capital investment was identified to secure the long-term future of GLLC, in the region of £10.4m.

2. The Department has completed a series of actions to progress the refurbishments, as detailed within the report. The report provides details of the proposed next steps to deliver the project.

3. CIL funding has since been secured to complete the refurbishment of GLLC, which is approved in the context of supporting delivery of the City of London Corporation’s Global City of Sport: A Sport Strategy for the Square Mile 2023- 2030, Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024- 2028, and Our Corporate Plan 2024- 2029.
…
CONCLUSION
16. Preparatory work has been completed to progress the refurbishment of GLLC. CCS Committee will remain a key decision-making forum for the refurbishment design, construction, and future management of GLLC. Regular updates will be presented to CCS Committee, with the next scheduled for June 2025, where a decision regarding the future management option will be sought, along with the initial findings of the opportunity report presented.

– Greg Knight, Head of Commissioning, Community & Children’s Services

project website

The project website is currently under construction (since March 2025, possibly earlier).

GOLDEN LANE LEISURE REFURBISHMENT