A multi-million pound sports facility being built in Waltham Forest will be among the ‘biggest and best’ in the capital it has been claimed, despite objections from thousands of residents and stakeholders who say they were not consulted.

Following the controversial decision by Waltham Forest council’s planning committee last night (March 10), the Pool and Track in Chingford can now begin.

The facility, over four decades old, has been knocked down but will be re-built and re-launched as Waltham Forest Lesiure Centre in 18 months time.

Despite a petition urging councillors to stop the process and consult stakeholders and centre users, plans which did not replace of the only high board diving facilities and dove pit in the borough were approved.

Once complete, the centre will include a 25m, eight-lane competition pool, a teaching pool, a four-court sports hall, an activity room/studio and a soft play area for children.

In addition, visitors will have access to an extreme sports zone, with a climbing wall, dance studios, a new gym and changing facilities and both wet and dry health and wellbeing spa areas.

The centre will also have 1m and 3m diving boards and an outdoor floodlit artificial sports pitch.

However, conditions were also imposed to move the toilets and give the Orion Harriers athletics club, access to a stretch room.

Cllr Ahsan Khan, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We want to give residents access to first-class sports, fitness and health facilities, and fully believe Waltham Forest Leisure Centre will have something for everyone.

“It promises to be a landmark leisure venue for residents and visitors to the borough alike – rivalling the biggest and best leisure centres in London.

“Inevitably, a project of this scale will not be able to tick each and every box on people’s wish lists, but we’re confident visitors to the new centre will be really impressed with everything it has to offer.”

Prior to the recent demolition of the run-down Pool and Track building, membership at the centre had dropped by a third, according to the council.

Cllr Khan said: “We expect the new Waltham Forest Leisure Centre to see an extra 175,000 visits per year based on the increased number of visitors that other re-developed leisure centres have seen but in the meantime, our other five refurbished centres are ideal venues for anyone looking to get active.

“All of the council’s leisure centres represent a more affordable alternative to expensive private gyms offering similar facilities, so I’d thoroughly recommend you pay a visit to your local centre and see for yourself what it has to offer.”

Gyms and swimming centres have been refurbished in Leyton, Leytonstone and Chingford in the last year.

For more information visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk/sports-facilities or phone 020 8496 3000.