Work is set to start this summer on exciting multi-million-pound plans to transform Partington Sports Village.
The refurbishment of the facility, on Chapel Lane, is due to start on 22 July 2024, if planning permission is received for the project.
The plans are for the centre to be transformed into a state-of-the-art modern leisure facility for the wider community to enjoy thanks to Trafford Council’s successful bid for funding to the government’s Levelling Up Fund (Round Two) in early 2023.
If the plans get the go-ahead, the new-look centre, due to open in Spring 2026, will be re-branded move Partington. The centre would benefit from a four-court sports hall, a four-lane 20m swimming pool with storage, an enlarged fitness suite with more than 40 fitness stations, a multi-functional studio, an immersive indoor cycle studio, and a large spatial foyer with pool viewing and an extended café with an outdoor terrace area. There will also be a wet and dry change village alongside separate gender-specific wet and dry changing spaces, both with improved accessibility, and a changing places toilet.
The proposed refurbishment would also include the replacement of the fossil fuel (gas) heating system with air sourced heat pumps and solar panels, which are significantly more sustainable options than the existing systems, plus a number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points, all helping to support Trafford Council’s action plan to be Carbon Neutral by 2038.
To enable the planned works to be carried out, Partington Sports Village will be temporarily closing, with programmes and activities starting to be relocated from the end of June. The centre will close to the general public from Sunday 30 June 2024. Where possible, customers have been given alternative sites for health and fitness activities, including Trafford Leisure’s popular Alpha and Learn to Swim programmes.
Jo Cherrett is CEO of Trafford Leisure, a community interest company wholly owned by Trafford Council, which manages leisure in Trafford on behalf of the council. She says: “We understand the temporary closure is disruptive for our customers and have made every effort to provide our community with alternative locations for their wellbeing. However, we are excited about the future, and how this proposed new centre would bring the community of Partington and the surrounding villages, including Carrington, together as a focal point for wellness.
“The local community in and around Partington are passionate about where they live and have an overwhelming desire to see their local area thrive. Subject to being granted planning permission, when we re-open our doors, the modern, fit-for-purpose leisure venue will be an inspiring space to help people with every aspect of their wellbeing.
It will become the third site Trafford Leisure will have opened under the new brand name move, following the opening of move Urmston in 2020, and move Altrincham later this year. move Partington, with its new extension, will offer more than 2,500 square metres of sport and leisure activities to help Trafford Leisure achieve its vision of becoming the most active place in England. When move Partington opens, the facilities, services and our team of wellbeing experts can help you move more every day. Together, let’s get Trafford moving more.”
The investment in move Partington supports Trafford Council’s strategy and commitment to get more people moving more often. It forms part of a borough-wide long-term strategy to support the health and wellbeing of local residents through access to affordable, sustainable, accessible modern leisure facilities. It also supports Trafford Council’s corporate priority to reduce health inequalities across the borough and address climate change.
