St George's Leisure Centre
A new leisure centre
The project will see the demolition of the existing centre and the creation of a modern, high-quality facility designed to support the health and wellbeing of residents. It will provide inclusive facilities for all ages and abilities, encouraging increased participation in physical activity and delivering a sustainable operating model for the council. This scheme will transform the area into a vibrant hub for health, wellbeing and community life. It will target BREEAM Excellent standards and feature both wet and dry leisure facilities, including:
- A 25-metre pool
- Learner pool
- Splash pad
- Active play area
- Active hall, including badminton court
- Fitness suite (including female only fitness suite)
- Studios
New council homes
The scheme will deliver 30 new council-owned homes, predominantly family-sized, helping to meet the borough’s pressing need for affordable social housing. Three of these homes will be fully accessible units, supporting residents with additional needs.
Enhanced public realm and open space
The redevelopment includes significant improvements to the surrounding public realm and open spaces, including a new playground in St George’s Gardens designed to promote active and social play. Features will include a ‘mini MUGA’ (multi-use games area) and natural play elements.
Together, these proposals will transform and reinvigorate the local area, delivering long-term benefits for the community.
Timeline
Contractor appointment: Spring 2026
Demolition commencing: Summer 2026
Construction commencing: Autumn 2026
Project completion: Autumn 2028
Key milestones achieved
- Planning determination made in October 2026 at Development Committee.
- Strip-out works complete.
- Tender returns currently being evaluated for a Principal Contractor to complete design, demolish existing building and construct the new leisure, residential and landscaping works.
For any further information please view the planning application on our website.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my nearest council facilities?
Other centres in the borough are open and available for use:
Where can I take my child swimming/to learn how to swim whilst St George’s is being developed?
There are swimming pools at:
How much will it cost to use St George’s facilities after the development?
There will be a borough-wide pricing policy across all council-run centres.
Why is the council building housing on the site?
The average cost of renting a flat in Tower Hamlets is now more than the average household income. There are already more than 23,000 households on the housing register in need of an affordable home and more than 2,000 households are living in temporary accommodation.
In response, the council is committed to providing 1,000 social homes a year across the borough. This development will deliver genuinely affordable homes that will include properties big enough for families, with the ambition for of one in ten to be wheelchair accessible.
At just eight square miles, space to build in Tower Hamlets is in short supply. We’re making the most of land that we already own.
Who will the new homes be for?
They will be for families registered on the council’s housing register and will be allocated according to the council’s letting policy. The rent will be at a reduced level to make the homes affordable for those on lower incomes.
When will we see more detailed proposals on the housing development?
Initial consultation will set out much more information on where the new homes are likely to be located, the number of new homes, their size, etc. As the design progresses, more information will be shared with residents through a series of engagement events to be held locally.