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Freedom Leisure and Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust celebrate the opening of Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion
05 Jun 2026
Freedom Leisure and Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust are delighted to announce the official opening of Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion, a brand-new community wellbeing and sports facility designed to support healthier, more active lifestyles across the local area, for residents of Ebbsfleet and neighbouring towns.
The centre officially opened its doors on 1 June 2026 and will be operated by one of the UK’s leading charitable not-for-profit leisure trusts - Freedom Leisure, on behalf of Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust. The new facility provides high-quality wellbeing and sporting amenities for residents of all ages, creating a welcoming space for fitness, recreation and community activities and events.
To mark the opening, Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust were joined by representatives from Freedom Leisure to celebrate the launch of the partnership and their shared commitment to delivering this new community leisure facility. The day focused on working with the local community, including an activity morning for pupils from Ebbsfleet Green Primary School, who took part in a football session led by Ebbsfleet United.
Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) worked alongside Redrow, Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust and Freedom Leisure to support delivery of the Pavilion within the wider Weldon neighbourhood. The £13 million investment by EDC has helped enhance community facilities across the Weldon neighbourhood, including the Wellbeing Pavilion, creating high-quality spaces for sport, health and wellbeing for local residents.
Sara Waller, CEO of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation said: “Ebbsfleet is already a growing and established community, and the priority is making sure that growth delivers real value in people’s everyday lives. The opening of the Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion is a clear example of that in practice. This is a space created for local residents and those living in neighbouring towns where people can come together, stay active and feel connected.Facilities like this matter because they turn new neighbourhoods into places where people can genuinely live well. That is what long-term placemaking is about, and it is what we are committed to delivering across Ebbsfleet.”
Ivan Horsfall Turner, Freedom Leisure CEO who presided over the opening said; "We are delighted to be working in partnership with Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust to bring Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion to the heart of this growing community. At Freedom Leisure, we are passionate about creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be active, improve their wellbeing and connect with others. This fantastic new facility provides a welcoming space where residents, schools, clubs and community groups can come together and we look forward to supporting the health and wellbeing of the Ebbsfleet community for many years to come."
Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion offers a state-of-the-art 3G pitch, alongside a modern gym and studio, netball and tennis courts and a versatile community hall, that will significantly enhance opportunities for grassroots sport, physical activity and wellbeing initiatives within the growing Ebbsfleet Garden City community.
The opening of the Pavilion reflects a collaboration between organisations to invest in facilities that bring people together, promote wellbeing and support vibrant, connected communities.
Freedom Leisure looks forward to welcoming local residents, clubs, schools and community groups to enjoy the new facilities in the months and years ahead.
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