Q: Why does Kings Hall Leisure Centre (KHLC) need to be refurbished?
A: Kings Hall Leisure Centre has been at Hackney’s heart for generations. It’s an important social and historical landmark, reflected in its Grade II listing, but the condition of the building continues to deteriorate, which means that repair costs are rising and your experience of the centre is getting worse. We’re determined, despite significant financial challenges facing the Council, to find a way to improve this much-loved building and secure it for generations to come. 

Q: What is the potential timeline for the refurbishment project?
A: The project’s business case was approved by the Council’s Cabinet in September 2024.We will proceed with submitting for planning and Listed Building approval shortly, and continue our procurement process for a main contractor. Based on the current programme, the earliest start on site is expected to be in the autumn of 2025, with the new facility becoming operational in the autumn/winter of 2028. 

Q: If a decision is made to refurbish KHLC, how long will it be closed for?
A: The duration of the closure depends on various factors such as project timelines, funding approval, detailed design and contractor due diligence. However, based on our estimates, we would expect a closure to last for 2.5 years.

Q: Why is the refurbishment not being done in stages? 
A: The current building is at the end of its life, and in order to ensure that structural repairs, and upgrades to the building services and fabric are able to be efficiently and safely carried out, this requires the whole building to be shut during the construction works. Unfortunately, a phased approach to the refurbishment is not possible.

Q: Why is the refurbishment taking longer compared to other centres in the area?
A: The construction work and process are complicated compared to other Hackney projects. As significant parts of the building are Grade II listed, the refurbishment has to integrate new builds within existing buildings. This has impacted the programme length. 

Q: What alternative provisions will be available for users if KHLC is closed for refurbishment?
A: Unfortunately, the facility will need to be closed completely for the period of refurbishment and renewal. This is to ensure the facility is under construction for the shortest period of time, and to ensure a safe environment for all. Kings Hall users will be able to access other leisure facilities in the borough while any work takes place. The Council is also exploring whether it can provide temporary health and fitness facilities in another venue in the east of the borough during the closure. 

Q: How will any refurbishment project be funded?
A: A financial business case was brought to the Council’s Cabinet in September 2024, setting out the funding approach and investment case for the project. Click here for more details.

Q: How has equal access been built into the design?
A: With the existing 19th century entrance to Lower Clapton Road being raised with stepped access from the footpath, it is inaccessible for those with mobility difficulties. Moving the building entrance to Clapton Square will provide a level, at grade access to the building. This will ensure everyone,
irrespective of physical ability, will be able to access the building. This will remove any barriers to participation at Kings Hall Leisure Centre. Internally, design considerations have been made to ensure easily navigable circulation routes, with lift access between floors for members.

Q: How has equal access been built into the pool design?
A: The pools will be fully accessible via a Pool Pod (https://www.better.org.uk/lp/pool-pod), hoists, and a moving floor in the teaching pool. The moving floor allows the floor to rise flush to the ground and be lowered to specified depth as needed. 

Q: Will the entrance to the building be accessible to all, including powerchair users?
A: Yes, the new entrance to Kings Hall Leisure Centre is designed to be fully inclusive and accessible. It will comply with ‘Approved Document: Part M’, which provides legal guidance under Building Regulations on making buildings accessible for everyone. The entrance will feature a threshold with no metal sills or barriers that could cause issues for powerchairs, manual wheelchairs, or walking aids.

We are also working with an access consultant to ensure the entire facility is designed for full mobility access, including the entrance, ground surfaces, and interior layout. Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming experience for all visitors.

Q: Why is the current entrance on Lower Clapton Road not being converted to an accessible building entrance given its heritage significance? 
A: The frontage on Lower Clapton Road is of high heritage significance and has a presence to the street that would typically be recognised as an “entrance”. However, in the early stages of the project, the team carried out extensive studies on the ability to adapt the existing entrance. The project team also commissioned an access audit which was undertaken in line with Historic England’s “Easy Access to Historic Buildings” advice. Due to the entrance being stepped, there is no access for people who are wheelchair users via the main entrance. Both sets of steps to the entrance are dimensionally inconsistent and steep. Steps which vary in height and depth present a risk of trips and falls particularly for ambulant disabled people, blind and partially sighted people, people with dyspraxia, and older people, which can be a barrier to access the facilities. 

The space between the front of the building and the road is too narrow to support a ramped access into the facility. The design team tested the use of a ’stepless’ platform lift solution. Whilst this option provides a common entrance for all users, with the stairs converting into a platform for access to Kings Hall Leisure Centre, the proposal still disadvantages disabled user groups, which is neither acceptable nor inclusive for a community focused leisure centre. Additionally, during busy periods this entrance design would not be able to deal with the high volume of users coming in and out of the building.

The design team also tested more considerable levels of intervention to enable the introduction of a 20m ramp. This would require removing portions of the historic external façade and floor. The loss of this floor area had a detrimental impact on the facilities which could be delivered and was unviable in cost terms. The proposed solution preserves the facility's heritage significance whilst meeting the needs of its users and operational requirements as a leisure facility.

Q: Why are you not maintaining the current entrance and also creating a separate accessible entrance?
A: The concept of having two entrances could work if they were next to one another, i.e., not being discriminatory to a specific user group by having them use a separate entrance. Unfortunately, this is not an option for KHLC given the nature of the site. 

Having two entrances at the front and side of the building poses significant operational challenges. Two entrances would require twice as many staff members to control user access in and out of the facility, putting pressure on the operational viability of the centre.This would also mean that there was less space for leisure facilities to be provided within the building.

Q: What is happening to the space currently used as the entrance at KHLC?
A: The space currently used as the entrance (via Lower Clapton Road) is designed to become a separately programmable health and fitness area. This new space will add approximately 21 fitness stations, addressing the growing demand for fitness facilities and ensuring the newly designed space is well used.

Q: How does the design of the new entrance and façade reflect the heritage of the area and fit with the existing stone architecture?
A: The proposed new entrance on Clapton Square will provide step-free access for all. Architecturally, it is designed to respond to its context including the listed and locally listed buildings and the Clapton Square Conservation Area. The scale of the building and the use of arches in the detailing of the façade are inspired by and are intended to complement the historic architecture of the square.

Q: Will there be clear signage guiding users from Lower Clapton Road to the new entrance?
A: Yes, there will be clear signage directing users from Lower Clapton Road to the new entrance on Clapton Square. A combination of temporary and permanent signage will be used. 

Temporary signs will help redirect current members familiar with the old entrance, and once visitors adjust to the refurbishment, these will be in place alongside permanent bronze-lettered signage set within the stone piers at the new entrance. The signage at the new entrance is designed for high visibility, featuring a stone totem facing the junction of Clapton Square and Lower Clapton Road. 

Existing street signage will also be updated to clearly indicate directions to the new entrance, ensuring easy navigation for visitors, including those arriving at the nearby bus stop currently labelled "Hackney Public Baths."

Q: What security measures will be put in place to prevent antisocial behaviour near the new entrance?
A: The leisure facility has been designed with security as a priority, particularly given its location in a busy area of Hackney. Comprehensive CCTV coverage will monitor the new entrance and courtyard, ensuring constant surveillance of key areas.

During opening hours, staff will be present to oversee the facility, and the area will be well-lit to eliminate dark spots, enhancing safety for all users. Perimeter measures such as bollards and thoughtfully placed street furniture will help mitigate the risk of vehicle attacks. The landscaping around the new entrance will ensure clear sightlines and minimal obstructions to further improve safety.

Q: Will there be individual showers and changing spaces?
A: Yes.

Q: What improvements will be made to ensure privacy in the wet and dry changing areas, particularly for families with children of a different gender?
A: The wet and dry changing areas will have individual cubicles for changing. In addition,he wet change facilities have been designed to be able to close off a section of the changing area to create private changing, and separation between the changing for the two pools. These pools can then be programmed separately. As well as the flexibility for private group change, the wet change also includes individual change, and Changing Places provision.

For the dry change facilities on the first floor, the design acknowledges a strong preference for separate male and female changing spaces, but also has individual change and Changing Places provision. 

Q: Will the new design allow parents to watch their children during swim lessons by retaining views into the swimming pools?
A: Parents will be able to watch their children in either the new teaching pool (through new windows into the pool area, with seating available), or in the refurbished mixed pool (through the existing windows).The balcony area within the mixed pool hall will also be refurbished and brought back into use. 

Q: How will the centre address the swimming pool odour? 
A: The new facility will provide much better air circulation throughout all spaces, but most importantly ponding water will not stagnate into the current structure of the building, which currently makes it virtually impossible for operatives to clean /remove the said odours. 

Q: Will the pool temperature be improved to address concerns that it is currently too cold for regular use?
A: The refurbishment of the existing mixed pool will ensure that it achieves a temperature of 27/28 degrees. The refurbishment will also improve the thermal performance of the space, with air temperatures being set at 1 degree above the pool temperature. The new teaching pool will achieve a pool temperature of 28/29 degrees.

Q: Will there be a hydrotherapy pool on site?
A: Unfortunately due to the need to protect and maintain the heritage of the building / spaces it was not practical to deliver a hydrotherapy pool in the refurbished Kings Hall Leisure Centre. This is largely because a hydrotherapy pool would require significantly different operating parameters than the other pools, meaning it would need a separate pool hall / space, which was not achievable.

Q: Will the centre have new equipment post-refurbishment?
A: The current intention is to provide new equipment for the centre when it reopens to the public.

Q: Why is a café not included in the new design and will there be affordable food and drink options for users?
A: During the early stages of design, the team considered the most appropriate food and beverage offering for the centre. Following feedback from the operator, and an analysis of the space available in the centre, a vending option was decided to be the most appropriate response. 

This recognises the variety of provision which exists in the local vicinity, the viability of a competing offer in the centre, and the space constraints which the existing building structure presents. If a cafe had been provided, this would have been at the expense of fitness space, e.g. the new programmable health and fitness area in the existing entrance.

Q: Will Better manage the facilities post-refurbishment?
A: The Council's Leisure Management Contract with GLL / Better runs to 31 March 2029. The procurement process typically begins 3 years before the end of the contract and the procurement business case will be brought before the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee for consideration. 

Q: Will there be any changes to membership fees or access arrangements during the refurbishment?
A: Whilst the centre will be closed for any refurbishment, members will have access to other Council / GLL operated facilities in the Borough. Since there's a Borough-wide pricing strategy in place, membership fees will remain unchanged. Ample notice of the planned closure will be provided to allow members to plan accordingly.

Q: What steps will be taken to minimise the potential impact of the new sports hall on local residents, particularly regarding height, daylight, and noise?
A: The environmental effects associated with the enhanced leisure centre facilities on site, including the new sports hall, will be appropriately addressed via an array of supporting technical reports which will accompany the application submission. This will include environmental considerations such as daylight and sunlight, energy strategy, noise, and air quality impacts as a consequence of the development.  

Q: How will you manage construction traffic around Clapton Square to avoid worsening existing bottlenecks, especially with the new cycleway?
A: The project team, including our transport advisors and Pre Construction Services Contractor are in discussions with Streetscene in order to assess the safest route to manage construction traffic. This will be set out in our outline construction management plan which will be submitted as part of our planning application.

This builds on analysis and Road Safety Audits which have already been carried out to help inform our proposals for pedestrian and cycle movements to and from the new Leisure Centre entrance on Clapton Square. 

Q: How will any refurbishment impact local businesses and residents nearby?
A: We're committed to engaging with neighbours and businesses that share boundaries with the centre. Through discussions and agreements, we'll attempt to address any potential impacts from the refurbishment plans. 

The refurbishment could lead to an increase in footfall, presenting an opportunity for nearby businesses to thrive. Moreover, a new accessible entrance will be a significant outcome of the scheme, enhancing accessibility for all. Whilst the improvements to the public realm will also prioritise safety for pedestrians and cyclists, contributing to a safer environment for the local community.

Q: How will you manage construction dust and noise, especially in relation to weekend and evening work?
A: In line with planning requirements, we will submit an outline construction management plan. This will set out the parameters and measures that the contractor will implement to mitigate noise and dust on site. This would typically include the choice of machinery, together with placing sensors around the site. The site management team would then be alerted if noise or vibration trigger levels were breached.  Measures will also set out how dust will be suppressed / dampened, and vehicles washed down before they leave the site. 

Construction working hours will be in line with the Council’s standard position, i.e. between 8am and 6pm weekdays, and between 8am and 1pm on a Saturday. Where wide load vehicle movements and/or construction activities need to take place outside of working hours, these will be notified to residents in advance through regular Resident Forums and direct communication methods. 

Sometimes unexpected issues do occur, which require unplanned working outside of these hours, e.g. to complete time sensitive work, and protocols will be put in place by the contractor to mitigate this and to communicate clearly with neighbours when such instances occur. 

Q: What sustainability measures are planned for the project?
A: The energy strategy for the development aligns with the Be Lean, Be Clean and Be Green energy hierarchy proposed by the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Hackney. Some of the measures adopted under each stage of the energy hierarchy include:

• Be Lean:
  • Enhanced levels of insulation and a low air permeability to the proposed extension
  • Targeted fabric enhancements to some parts of the existing building, which includes improving the air permeability of the retained elements
  • Replace all of the existing MEP systems with new energy efficient plant
  • New LED lighting to all areas, with daylight and occupancy sensing where appropriate
  • Maximising the use of natural ventilation and light
  • Where mechanical ventilation is employed, use heat recovery
  • Variable speed drives on all pumps and fans
  • New Building Management System with the ability to monitor energy consumption
• Be Clean:
  • Provision of a new heating system that has the ability to connect to nearby heat networks
• Be Green:
  • All heating and cooling will be provided by air source heat pumps that can recover heat
  • PV installation to the new roof over the sports hall and fitness suite

Q: How can the community provide feedback or raise concerns about the refurbishment proposals?
A: Community members can share feedback by emailing khlcrefurbproject@hackney.gov.uk