A NEW multi-million pound leisure facility will soon be built on the Gravity Smart Campus near Bridgwater.

Following the announcement in February that the site will become home to the UK's largest gigafactory, run by Agratas, Gravity has now confirmed a new leisure facility is in the works.

The new leisure centre will be open to the public as well as workers at the campus.

It will replace the building currently hosted by the 37 Club on the former Royal Ordnance Factory site.

However, the new bar and café built as part of the 37 Club will be retained after consultations with members.

Martin Bellamy, Chairman and CEO of Gravity, said: "After very careful consideration, we have agreed that the replacement of the core 37 Club facilities should remain on the Gravity smart campus site.

“We did consider other options, but we believe this is important for historic reasons to ensure an on-going legacy from the former ROF facility and to ensure the leisure facilities remain immediately accessible to the villages and communities adjoining the campus."

Read more: New Gigafactory: Financial support from government needed, says county Labour leader

 

The plans for the new facility will be on display at the 37 Club over the coming weeks, and although a new name for the facility has not been confirmed, Gravity's working title is currently 'The 37'.

The new facility will be directly connected to the Village Enhancement Scheme – a walking and cycling route to connect Puriton and Woolavington – and will include a café, bar, two skittle alleys and four full-size and snooker tables.

It will also have ample space to host public art, and will be open to the community during the day and at weekends.

A planning compliance submission under the Gravity Local Development Order (LDO) will be made to the council in April, and Gravity anticipates work will start in the summer.

The new facility will be open in 2025, and the existing club will stay open until then.

All skittles bookings will be honoured and moved across - the company will work with staff, members and the community to manage the change.

The 37 Club's current war-time building, originally intended to be temporary, has consent for demolition, meaning Gravity is obliged to replace the building to ensure leisure facilities are retained.

Pete Bamber, current tenant of the 37 Club, said: “I will be working closely with the Gravity team to ensure a smooth transition.

"These are exciting plans which we hope the community will welcome.

"For us, maintaining the 37 Club legacy, keeping that link with the past, is so important. 

"We plan to have a Legacy Wall in the new building to acknowledge that history.”