David Lloyd Group believed to be adopting previously submitted planning application

CGI of new facility

Details of plans for a major upgrade of the Park Club in Acton have been made available in a planning application submitted to Ealing Council.

They include a new 50 metre outdoor swimming pool and an extra storey being added to the existing clubhouse as well as an extension of the club’s operating hours.

The application was first submitted back in March by the Hogarth Group, the previous owners of the club, but are only now being put out for public consultation. It is believed that they have been held back to allow for the completion of the acquisition of the club by the David Lloyd Leisure Group. The club closed for refurbishment last month after the private health club with 2,500 members changed hands.

The plan is to make the existing clubhouse two story with new rooms overlooking the playing fields to the south. The roof extension would comprise a new floor built largely within the roof void but requiring an increase in height of 1.31m.

There will also be a second outdoor pool with a spa garden at the north part of the site. This pool will be ‘Olympic-sized’ at 50 metres long and include an elevated hot tub and outdoor seating and relaxation areas. A new fence would be erected around this area for privacy and security.

There is also a request being made to change the operational hours of the clubhouse facility from Monday - Friday 6am to 10.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 10.30pm and Bank Holidays 8am to 8pm to Mon - Fri 6am to 11pm and Sundays and Bank Holidays 7am to 11pm.

View of new facilities from the north

In October 2016 permission was granted for a 50m outdoor swimming pool, new flood lit ‘3G’ all weather playing surface, new changing and viewing pavilion and an artificial grass tennis court plus 3 artificial grass cricket pitches. Work on the playing field element of this is proceeding as part of a £2million investment by Club des Sports which is owned by Dan White the managing director of the Hogarth Group. This facility will remain fully operational while the former Park Club is closed for refurbishment. But the applicant has now indicated that they no longer wish to proceed with the pool and the clubhouse as approved as the plans have been superseded by those in the new application.

The plans also will increase the size of changing facilities, incorporate a new wet spa, retain and refurbish the existing pool hall, reconfigure the existing reception and club lounge as well as extending the existing gym and providing a new family lounge and associated children’s activity rooms. New studios will be added.

To the north of reception, a new lounge, including bar and separate adult lounge will be created by extending the existing lounge into what is currently studio space. To the south of reception, the existing gym and conservatory space will be reconfigured into two areas: a family area including separate lounge, children’s activity spaces and play frame. The remainder of the space being dedicated to a Mind & Body and Pilates studio.

View of new facility from the south west

The existing lift and stairs will be retained to connect to the lower ground floor level where the existing studios and changing rooms will be replaced by new male, female and family change facilities. The existing female changing room will be replaced by a new wet spa including steam, sauna, pool and relax area. Access to the proposed external spa garden will be through the pool hall. The pool hall will be refurbished and the existing spa pool removed and the area extended into the former steam room to create a new kids pool.

A new lift and staircase connects the upper ground level to new first floor space. At this level, the space created replaces the upper ground floor gym, and further increases the total area to expand the range of equipment and facilities available. Two new studio spaces are accessed off the gym, a high impact studio to the north and spin studio to the south.

As part of the planning approval given to the club back in 2010, East Acton Primary School is permitted to use sports facilities on two afternoons a week (for no less than 4 hours) during term times free of charge, for the lifetime of the development.

We have contacted the David Lloyd Leisure group for a comment on the proposals but have yet to receive a response. At the time of the take over it was announced that the refurbishment of the Park Club would take 'at least' nine months to complete.

August 3, 2017