Image: A fitness suite is included in the plans

Horsham District Council (HDC) has agreed to proceed with plans for a new £7.3m leisure centre to replace the existing Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre, West Sussex.

The development is to be financed by the local authority, with work to start in summer 2015. It comes after a business case deemed the current facility to be no longer fit for purpose.

Under HDC's plans, the new centre will be "considerably larger, more flexible and a more expensive" facility than originally planned and will be to the south of the current site.

Facilities will include a fitness suite; a multi-use dance studio/meeting room/crèche; a three-court sports hall; a six-rink indoor bowls space; and outdoor sports courts.

HDC cabinet member for arts, heritage and leisure Jonathan Chowen said: "This is an opportunity to re-provide a new state of the art sports centre fit for the 21st century."

Details: www.horsham.gov.uk

Image: Dmitry Yashkin/shutterstock.com