Council plans to provide ‘the very best facilities’ at Eastwood Park

The new leisure centre will feature a six-lane swimming pool, sports courts and gym.

Councillors last week unanimously agreed the preferred site for the new-build, state-of-the-art leisure centre and theatre was Eastwood Park.

The decision means Shawwood Park and Broomburn Park, previously considered as potential site options, will remain as protected urban green space.

Thoughts now turn to the next stage in the process, outlining the detailed options and costs of the proposed new facility.

The existing centre will remain open while the new facility is being built.

Eastwood Park is chosen by councillors for new leisure centre and theatre

It’s intended that the new centre will include a six-lane 50m swimming pool, additional teaching pool and flumes, spectator seating area, wet and dry changing village, 140-station gym, spin studio, six-court sports hall, health suite, café, multifunctional cultural space and an interactive play area.

There will also be a theatre space, ideally a flexible, multi-purpose area.

The new facility is likely to be built over two floors at a site adjacent to the existing Eastwood Leisure Centre and Theatre, allowing them to continue operating during the construction period, ensuring there would be no major disruption to leisure provision during this time.

However, the council’s director of environment has indicated that due to various constraints, the original specification for four floodlit outdoor 3G pitches would not be possible.

As part of a wider masterplan of Eastwood Park, though, the vision is to develop improved outdoor space that can enjoyed by people working within the park and for those who visit and use it for recreational purposes.

Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “We are ambitious and want to provide the very best facilities for our residents, so I’m delighted that we have now agreed a preferred site to progress with plans for a new leisure centre and theatre.

“This will be a significant development for East Renfrewshire and it was vitally important that we looked at all options before making a decision.

“A significant amount of work has been put in to ensure that every possibility has been explored, and this decision is a positive step forward.

“I look forward to seeing more detailed plans as we move forward with this exciting plan.”

A further report will be brought before councillors later this year, outlining more detailed proposals and costs of the new facility.