Building on a new family leisure centre in Morden will start within a month. 

Merton Council plans to keep Morden Park Pool open and running until the new leisure centre is open. Sports facilities will also remain open throughout the work.

The council announced the £11m project which would involve the rebuild of the local swimming pool in 2013.

In 2016, the Wimbledon Guardian reported that the new centre will feature a café, a swimming pool, a gym and four badminton courts, as well as a six lane, 25 metre pool.

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Once the new centre is built, Morden Park Pool will become open green space again.

Contractors Pellikaan Construction Limited specialises in designing and building sports and leisure buildings, and has said it will start building within the next month. The centre is scheduled to open in autumn 2018.

Merton Council cabinet member for community and culture Councillor Nick Draper said: “These are exciting times for Morden. We’ve worked hard to secure a good deal for our residents.

"This new leisure centre will serve local families, schools and swimming clubs for generations to come. 

"It is a pleasure to welcome Pellikaan to Merton today for the contract signing and I am looking forward to seeing the work begin on site shortly.

"The new centre will cost us less to maintain in the long term than the current old building so this development is good news for council tax payers as well as for all those who want to keep fit and healthy.”

Director of environment and regeneration Chris Lee signed the contract with Pellikaan company directors Gert-Jan Peeters and Richard van Emmerik yesterday, June 22. 

Morden Park Pool has long suffered from a number of problems forcing repeated closures for maintenance work.

Problems have included ceiling tiles crashing into the pool, lengthy closures due to boiler problems and leaks and poor changing room conditions.

Plans emerged in 2010 to rebuild the 33-metre pool, with Merton Council pledging to find £11m, but plans never materialised.

Director of Pellikaan, Richard van Emmerik said: “We are looking forward to starting work in Merton. Morden Leisure Centre will be a great project to work on as we deliver a modern family-friendly leisure facility for the people of the borough." Building on a new family leisure centre in Morden will start within a month.

Merton Council plans to keep Morden Park Pool open and running until the new leisure centre is open. Sports facilities will also remain open throughout the work.

The council announced the £11m project that would involve the rebuild of the local swimming pool in 2013. In 2016, the Wimbledon Guardian reported that the new centre will feature a café, a swimming pool, a gym and four badminton courts, as well as a six lane, 25 metre pool.