A new, first‑class Gurnell Leisure Centre for residents is a step closer, after Ealing Council approved the start of groundwork on site to prepare it for construction.

The decision, made this week, marks one of the most significant milestones yet on the journey to rebuilding one of the borough’s most important community facilities.

The council’s cabinet approved proposals on Wednesday (11 February), for ‘enabling works’ – also known as groundworks – to start in the coming weeks. This will prepare the site so that full construction can begin later this year. It will include ground excavation, site levelling, drainage and setting up the site for the main construction work.

The new Gurnell Leisure Centre will bring a wide range of new facilities — including a 50‑metre Olympic‑sized pool, making Ealing one of only 3 boroughs in London to offer such a facility. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a waterpark with slides and a lazy river and exercise studios, or they can catch up with friends in the centre’s cafe. In the grounds outside the leisure centre, there will be a new skate park, cycle track, outdoor gym and children’s playground.

‘The next exciting phase’

Council leader Peter Mason welcomed the decision and said: “We are committed to bringing a first-class Gurnell Leisure Centre back for residents to enjoy for decades to come and we’ve seen lots of progress towards that in the past year. Now we are reaching the next exciting phase, which means we will see diggers and teams move on site in the coming few weeks to make sure the ground is ready for construction work later this year.”

In a further sign of progress with the site and to enable delivery of the new leisure centre, cabinet also approved the disposal of the adjacent site to be developed for much needed housing. Countryside Properties have been named as preferred supplier, and the contract now enters a ‘standstill’ phase under procurement law. The outline planning permission granted in January 2025 allows for up to 300 new homes at the site.

‘Once-in-a-generation project’

Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities said: “This is a vital step that gets us ready to build. Gurnell is a complex, once‑in‑a‑generation project, and every milestone we reach gives residents more certainty and momentum. We’ve secured planning permission, completed demolition, selected a new leisure operator and now approved the enabling works and the residential partnership. Each of these achievements brings us closer to the outstanding leisure centre our communities deserve.”

Next steps

Enabling works are expected to begin in the spring, with the site being readied for full construction later in the year.

The council will bring forward the final funding strategy and main works contract for cabinet approval in due course.

Like all decisions by the council’s cabinet, this project is subject to final approval call in.