Key Points
- Plans for a brand new leisure centre in West London have progressed to the next phase with Hounslow Council committing £4 million for a feasibility study and design work.
- In October 2024, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) exclusively revealed that Hounslow Council intends to replace the ageing Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre.ealing.
- A report to Cabinet on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, outlines plans for a new wet and dry leisure centre to replace the current building, with an expected opening in 2031.
- Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre was built in 1987 and is operated by Lampton Services on behalf of the council.ealing.
- Since October 2024, Hounslow Council has engaged with over 900 residents to gather views on a modern and upgraded leisure centre.
- Surveys of the current leisure centre ensure safe operation until closure scheduled for 2028.
- Residents face a potential three-year gap without a leisure centre from 2028 to 2031 during construction.
- New flats built alongside the leisure centre will fund the project, as stated by Councillor Salman Shaheen.
- Councillor Salman Shaheen said: “We want to develop a masterplan and complete design work of the site by the beginning of next year.”
- The new centre will feature a larger gym, assisted fitness, modern sports halls, larger studios, interactive spinning, modern flexible pools with moveable floors, interactive splash zone, sauna, steam rooms, larger changing facilities, family-friendly spaces, soft play, a new café, buggy parking, and bookable rooms.
- Maintaining a swimming pool was a top resident priority; a pool-less option was rejected due to income limitations from family activities.
- Councillor Tom Bruce said: “The current building has served Brentford well, but it is ageing and becoming harder and more expensive to maintain. These proposals give us the chance to plan ahead and look seriously at how we can provide a modern, high-quality leisure centre that works better for residents and represents good value for the council in the long term. No final decisions on construction are being taken at this stage. The leisure centre would remain open while proposals are developed and there will be further engagement planned with residents as the work progresses.”
- In October 2024, as reported by Philip James Lynch of Ealing Nub News, Hounslow Council approved replacing the centre amid higher-than-average obesity rates, deeming the building unfit after 40 years.
- Councillor Salman Shaheen told LDRS: “We’ve got huge health challenges in the borough and we know how vitally important leisure centres are, particularly affordable leisure centres.”
- The council allocated £983,000 to architects for initial feasibility; Cllr Shaheen guaranteed funding for a new centre on the site.ealing.
- Hounslow Council survey from November 2024 closed January 24, 2025, with an engagement report available; no firm closure date set then, but expected to remain open.
- Historical plans date back to 2020 for a £68 million centre with residential housing, avoiding service gap by building adjacent.
- Community responses exceeded 800, thanked by council and Cllr Shaheen.
hounslow/brentford/">Brentford, West London (Brentford) January 18, 2026 – Plans for a brand new leisure centre have advanced to the next phase as Hounslow Council commits £4 million towards a feasibility study and design work, targeting an opening in 2031. The initiative aims to replace the ageing Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, built in 1987 and operated by Lampton Services. A key cabinet report scheduled for January 20 details the development of a modern wet and dry facility.
What is the current status of Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre?
The Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre, constructed in 1987, now stands at the end of its operational life after nearly four decades of service. As reported on the official Hounslow Council engagement page, whilst the centre remains open, surveys have confirmed it can operate safely until its scheduled closure in 2028. Lampton Services manages the facility on behalf of the council, which took it in-house post-pandemic.talk.
This closure timeline implies a three-year period without local leisure facilities during construction of the replacement, a point highlighted in recent coverage by Harrow Online. Councillor Tom Bruce, Lead Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, acknowledged the building’s ageing infrastructure, stating:
“The current building has served Brentford well, but it is ageing and becoming harder and more expensive to maintain.”
Why is Hounslow Council replacing the leisure centre?
Replacement stems from the centre being deemed unfit for purpose amid rising public health challenges, including higher-than-average obesity rates in the borough. As reported by Philip James Lynch of Ealing Nub News in October 2024, the cabinet approved the plan on October 14, 2024, recognising its 40-year lifespan exhaustion. Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces, told LDRS:
“We’ve got huge health challenges in the borough and we know how vitally important leisure centres are, particularly affordable leisure centres.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) exclusively broke the story in October 2024, noting the council’s intent to build anew on the same site. Earlier historical context from 2020 Chiswick W4 reports indicated long-term plans for a £68 million state-of-the-art facility, prioritising modern trends over costly refurbishments.
What funding secures the new leisure centre project?
New residential flats constructed alongside the leisure centre will finance the development, ensuring no direct cost to the council. Councillor Salman Shaheen told LDRS:
“We’re going to then go out into market engagement for the residential element… there has to be flats built on this site which are going to fund the development of this leisure centre. So that’s a factor which makes it an even more complicated development, but we need to carry out that work over the course of this year.”
Cllr Shaheen further guaranteed commitment, saying:
“That’s an absolute guarantee that we are going to fund a new leisure centre on that site,”
and dismissed budgetary concerns:
“I don’t believe that is going to be an issue. We are going to knock down this leisure centre and build a new one in this place that serves the public better.”
The £4 million allocation covers the upcoming feasibility and design phase, building on prior £983,000 spent on architects.ealing.
How has the community shaped these plans?
Hounslow Council engaged over 900 residents since October 2024 through surveys and consultations to define desired features in a modern centre. Cabinet documents reflect strong support for retaining a swimming pool, deemed essential for family activities and revenue; alternatives without pools were rejected. A November 2024 survey on the council’s Talk Hounslow platform closed January 24, 2025, with an engagement report published, gathering over 800 responses welcomed by Cllr Shaheen and the council.
Councillor Shaheen emphasised:
“We want to develop a masterplan and complete design work of the site by the beginning of next year.”
Further resident engagement is planned as proposals evolve, per Cllr Bruce.
What facilities will the new leisure centre offer?
The proposed centre promises significant upgrades: a larger and improved gym with assisted fitness, modern-standard sports halls, expanded studios for group exercise and interactive spinning. Swimming features modern flexible pools with moveable floors for diverse water activities, including an interactive splash zone, sauna, and steam rooms.
Additional amenities include larger modern changing facilities, family-friendly community spaces with soft play areas, a new café, buggy parking, and bookable rooms. These elements address resident priorities for accessible, high-quality leisure.
When will the new centre open and what happens next?
The target opening is 2031, following the 2028 closure of the existing site. The January 20, 2026, cabinet meeting reviews the phase-two report, advancing masterplanning and design by early 2026. No construction decisions are final yet; the current centre stays operational during development.
Social media updates, such as from Hounslow community groups, echo the timeline and note new homes funding the build. Historical precedents from 2020 aimed for adjacent construction to minimise disruption, though current plans revert to on-site replacement.
What challenges does the project face?
Key hurdles include the three-year service gap, complex residential integration, and potential build cost inflation. Cllr Shaheen noted the development’s complications due to funding via flats market engagement. Public health imperatives drive urgency, yet maintaining affordability remains paramount amid borough obesity concerns.
