Plans revealed for state-of-the-art squash club in Swindon

Plans to build a state-of the-art eight-court squash club in Swindon have been unveiled.

Three of the courts would be fitted with the latest technology to allow for video analysis and three others would have moveable side walls to increase the size for doubles play.

All courts would be built with glass back walls and the remaining two would be used as show courts with seating for more than 200 spectators.

The 35,000 sq ft Broome Manor Club is to be located on the grounds of the Broome Manor Golf Course, off Pipers Way, subject to receiving planning permission from Swindon Borough Council. Residents will be given the opportunity to have their say on the proposals in a public consultation later this month and the plans will go on show at the golf club on Monday 26^th June from 3pm to 7pm.

Building work is hoped to begin in February next year with the club opening as early as February 2019.

A spokesman for the company behind the plans The Leisure Group, which also runs The Marlow Club and The Thames Club in North London, was optimistic the proposals would be well received by residents. He said: "Swindon has become awash with budget fitness operators and it’s about time that residents were given the opportunity of joining a health club which gives a sense of belonging, somewhere to go where people were made to feel special."

If the plans do go ahead, the club will also feature an 85-station gym, four fitness studios, a personal training studio and private sessions with trainers.

Three of the squash courts will be fitted with the latest technology to allow for video analysis for coaches and Interactivesquash, a visual tool which helps to develop a player’s game on court that has been developed in Germany.

England Squash CEO Keir Worth said the centre would provide another venue to host events in the competitions calendar. He said: “The venue provides a great opportunity to enhance squash in the south of the UK and to replicate our model in Manchester, which is the home of the sport.

“Being just a stone’s throw away from the M4, it is ideally situated for well over half of the UK, connecting Wales with England. We look forward to working with partners to ensure this facility becomes one of England Squash’s centres of excellence that will drive our sport forward. We see this facility as being an integral part of us moving forward and it will undoubtedly feature heavily within our scheduled programme of events."

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Award-winning Gloucester architects Roberts Limbrick have been commissioned with the design of the building, which also includes a health and well-being centre complete with a 20-metre swimming pool, hot tub bath, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms.