New leisure centre at Proposed New Farnborough Leisure Centre Queensmead Car Park Kingsmead Farnborough

“The proposal the subject of the application is for the erection of a new Leisure Centre building within the Queensmead Car Park with ancillary facilities including outside play area, public realm, mobility and bicycle parking, service/loading zone, and landscaping; and the construction of a new 130-space surface car park on the land within the Pinehurst Roundabout.”

“The proposed Leisure Centre building would have a rectangular footprint measuring 42 metres by 36.6 metres orientated with the slightly longer north-south axis slanted 35 degrees west of north and sited in the approximate centre of the Queensmead Car Park land.”

“The application site is of an irregular shape and is situated to the west of Farnborough Road (A325) between the Kingsmead service road adjacent to Briarcliff House offices, the Iceland shop and the southern end of Queensmead to the north; and the Council Offices to the south. The site comprises the entirety of the Queensmead Car Park (aka Pinehurst North Car Park) and also the land within the Pinehurst Roundabout that is the site of the former Pinehurst South Car Park.”

“The sole existing vehicular access into the site is from the Kingsmead service road to the south-east of Briarcliff House, with the land within the Pinehurst Roundabout accessed from the Queensmead Car Park via tunnels under the road at the north end of the roundabout, also incorporating a pedestrian footway in one of the tunnels. There are existing pedestrian/cycleway subways under the road into the land in the centre of the Pinehurst Roundabout to the east, west and south.”

“The current application site is land identified as Plots D and I respectively within the Council’s Farnborough Civic Quarter (FCQ) re-development proposals. It was envisaged that these plots would contain substantial new development.”

“The Pinehurst South Car Park has not been used for parking for several years pending its re- development as part of the Farnborough Civic Quarter re-development. Indeed, the Pinehurst South Car Park deck and the original car park surface from the mid-1970s was removed and the site secured with temporary hoardings in 2025 following Prior Approval for demolition obtained in July 2024, 24/00297/DEMOPP in anticipation of the FCQ re-development coming forward.”

“It is considered that the proposals will make a positive contribution to Farnborough Town Centre in terms of both its visual appearance, but also its function and provision of leisure facilities. It is considered that the proposals are acceptable in principle in highway terms; to have an acceptable impact on the visual character, appearance of the area; and to have no material or adverse impact on neighbours.”

“It is recommended that SUBJECT to the completion of a satisfactory s106 Legal Agreement with Hampshire County Council by 15 th April 2026 or such later date as agreed by an extension of time, to secure:-”

“Objections raised by persons representing or supporting Rushmoor Artistic Swimming Club (RASC) comprise two-thirds (67%) of the total representations received, with 84% of the RASC objections being from persons not resident within Rushmoor. Of the non-RASC objections received, 82% were from Rushmoor residents; however, only 2 representations were received from the occupiers of properties situated within 250 metres of the application site.”

“It would have no Sports Hall and no facilities for racket sports, netball/basketball, bowling alley, climbing wall. A deeper swimming pool is needed to cater for scuba and diving. Soft-play for children is not needed – what about facilities for adults only? (l) Farnborough already has 4 gyms situated within a short walk – there is no need or demand for more gym capacity.”

“During discussion, it was requested that background documents, specifically regarding air quality findings from Environmental Health, would be shared with Members of the Committee.”

“ACTION What By whom When For background documents, including air quality findings, be shared with Members of the Committee. Planning Department Before the next Development Management Committee Meeting.”

“(i) the wording be amended to be more specific regarding ‘payment of a financial contribution of £TBA towards Rushmoor LCWIP schemes in the vicinity of the site’; and…”

“(ii) the Executive Head of Property and Growth, in consultation with the Chairman, be authorised to GRANT planning permission, subject to a Section 106 Agreement.”