Levelling Up funding confirmed for Fakenham Sports and Leisure Hub

Date published: 1st November 2024

North Norfolk District Council is delighted to confirm the £11m Fakenham Sports and Leisure Hub project will definitely go ahead.

The funding was initially granted by the previous Government under the Levelling Up Scheme - and NNDC has been waiting for this confirmation it would still be available following the change of Governments earlier this year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have this week notified the Council that work on the £11m project can proceed after funding was given the green light in Wednesday’s Autumn Budget.

The Council has been granted £9.875m to build new facilities at Fakenham Sports Centre, including a 25-metre public swimming pool and improved outdoor sports facilities.

Funding will enable the District Council to develop a full size 3G all-weather artificial grass pitch for competitive sports and outdoor sports changing facilities on the Trap Lane sports ground owned by Fakenham Town Council.

The current facilities, owned by the District Council and operated by leisure partners Everyone Active, currently comprises of a sports hall, fitness suite, multi-use area, dance studio, changing rooms and reception area.

Alongside the new leisure offerings, an allocation of £1m has been made for carbon reduction measures to the existing Trap Lane facility.

Cllr. Tim Adams, Leader of the Council, commented: 

"We're very pleased to receive the confirmation of the Levelling Up funding for the Fakenham Sports and Leisure Centre.

I am grateful for the dedication of our staff in pulling this project and proposal together and to Fakenham Town Council for their assistance in reaching this monumental outcome for the town's leisure offering. I would also like to thank Jerome Mayhew, the Member of Parliament for Fakenham and Broadland for his support in this also.

This is going to be so important for the future of Fakenham as a growing town - I believe that this facility will put it on the map as a local destination for activity, and I know lots of surrounding villages will use it. As Fakenham grows and develops over the coming years, we know how important sports and leisure is going to be as the town expands."