New long-term lease agreed for Uckfield Leisure Centre between Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council
Publish Date: 23 May 2025
Following the decision for a lease extension in 2022, Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council have agreed a new lease agreement for the provision of Uckfield Leisure Centre up to 2042.
Uckfield Leisure Centre is owned by East Sussex County Council and is a dual use site providing sports facilities to Uckfield College as well as for community use. The site is leased to Wealden District Council.
Freedom Leisure operate and manage the centre on behalf of Wealden District Council as well as the leisure centres in Crowborough and Hailsham. Freedom Leisure is a not-for profit charitable leisure and cultural trust, and they operate over 120 leisure, cultural and entertainment venues across the UK.
The council’s contract with Freedom Leisure is currently in place until March 2027. The partnership arrangement will see the continued provision of the dryside facilities including the gym, sports hall and the wetside facility of the swimming pool.
The centre is a very popular site and has had 137,432 visits during the period of April 24- November 24. For the same period, swimming attendance is 41,469 and the number of swim school members is currently at 5,892.
Over recent months, Wealden District Council and Freedom Leisure have worked in partnership to make improvements to the pool facilities as well as improving energy efficiency through the replacement of plant and installation of new technology which is already helping to reduce operational costs.
Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management said, “I am very pleased that the alliance council has been able to agree a long-term lease to secure the future of the pool. On coming into office in 2023 I have worked with officers as the cabinet lead and ward member to ensure the previous council decision not to renew the lease was reversed.
“We have put £78,000 towards improvements and have already undertaken works which have included a new pool cover, destratification fans in the pool and in the gym, circulation pumps and a new chlorine bulk tank. There are further planned energy efficiency measures to be installed at the centre over the next 12 months.”
“There are further planned energy efficiency measures to be installed as well. We have as an alliance council already commenced the process on renewing the contracts for the running of the Uckfield, Hailsham and Crowborough Lesure Centres which I hope will also build in further reassurances to our local communities in Wealden that these valuable facilities will have a strong and viable future going forward for the benefit of everyone’s wellbeing.”
The recent refurbishment of the pool surround flooring was funded by Freedom Leisure and cost £55,200. Freedom Leisure have also invested a further £245,000 into new fitness equipment and the provision of a dedicated spin studio and wellness studio.
As the current contract with Freedom Leisure expires in March 2027, the Leisure and Wellbeing team have started work on the procurement of a new leisure operator, a process which will take between 12-18 months. A new contract will be awarded to operate Uckfield Leisure Centre, along with the Hailsham and Crowborough Leisure Centres from April 2027 onwards.