A £6 million capital investment programme for leisure facilities across Powys, alongside a further £500,000 – £650,000 of energy efficiency measures, has been agreed by Powys County Council’s Cabinet yesterday (14 July).
Members approved Option C for the interim leisure capital programme, enabling essential maintenance, compliance, improvement and replacement works to be carried out across leisure centres throughout Powys.
The agreed programme will see £6 million invested over the next four years across the leisure estate. Cabinet also approved the completion of remaining short-term energy efficiency measures, with an estimated additional investment of £500,000 – £650,000, subject to grant funding and available resources.
By investing across all sites, the approach will help ensure the council continues to meet its legal responsibilities as landlord while addressing a broad range of maintenance, improvement and replacement needs identified across the leisure estate.
The decision follows consideration of the proposals by the Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee, which supported Option C as the preferred approach.
Councillor Raiff Devlin, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Digital and Community Wellbeing, said: “This represents a significant investment in leisure services across Powys. The £6 million capital programme will help address essential maintenance needs and improve facilities, while additional investment in energy efficiency measures will help reduce operating costs.
“Leisure centres play an important role in supporting healthy lifestyles, wellbeing and community connections. This decision demonstrates our commitment to maintaining access to these important facilities while planning responsibly for the future. The decision means there are no immediate plans to close leisure centres.”
Longer-term vision for an Active Powys
Alongside the investment programme, Cabinet agreed to progress a renewed leisure review to inform the future re-tender of the council‘s leisure contract in 2030. The review will consider leisure provision more broadly, including community-based activities, school facilities and partnership opportunities beyond the current contract arrangements.
The review will support the development of an ‘Active Powys’ model that aims to create a sustainable, affordable and accessible approach to supporting active lifestyles and wellbeing across the county.
The process will include:
- Updating leisure and locality data across Powys.
- Community engagement and locality conversations from autumn 2026.
- Exploration of all future delivery options, including alternative operating models.
- Continued partnership working with health, social care, schools and the voluntary sector.
- Ongoing member oversight through a cross-party Leisure Review Group.
- Development of evidence demonstrating the wider health and wellbeing benefits of leisure investment.
- Preparation for the re-tender of the leisure contract by July 2030.
