Bexhill and Ravenside Leisure Centres are important and popular features within Rother District which the Council is committed to supporting. The Council is responsible for the structure of both buildings, which are now reaching a point in their lifecycle where significant investment is required to maintain the buildings in a useable condition.
In April 2025, the Council approved a budget to plan and carry out repairs, replacements and maintenance necessary to extend the life of the buildings and ensure that both Bexhill and Ravenside Leisure Centres remain open to the public for the longer term.
The project commenced in October 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by January 2027.
Design teams for both projects were appointed in late 2025, and work has progressed well in recent months.


The designs have now reached construction stage, with the main layout, structure and key features agreed. Detailed technical information has been completed in preparation for delivery.
Tender packs have been issued to contractors for pricing and are due to be returned at the end of May 2026. Following this, submissions will be reviewed and a contractor appointed to deliver the works.
A permitted development application was submitted in February 2026 for new solar panels to be installed on the eastern and southern sides of the building. The application was registered under RR/2026/0183/NPV.
The application was presented to planning committee on the 16th April 2026 and it was decided that prior approval was not required for the proposals and works can progress in line with the proposals. The planning committee can be viewed online here: Planning Committee on Thursday 16th April 2026
The proposals will be included within the upcoming landlord improvement works to both centres.
A full planning application was submitted and validated in February 2026 under reference RR/2026/0206/FULL .
The application was recommended for approval and successfully received full planning approval at committee on the 16th April 2026. The planning committee can be viewed online here: Planning Committee on Thursday 16th April 2026.
The proposals will be included within the upcoming landlord improvement works to both centres.
A permitted development application has been submitted for new solar panels to be installed on the eastern and southern sides of the building. The application RR/2026/0183/NPV was validated in February 2026 and is due for decision in April 2026, following consideration at planning committee.
If approval is granted, the council aims to fund the installation through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) infrastructure funding and Climate Emergency funding. The solar panels will help reduce the building’s carbon footprint and energy costs.
A full planning application has been submitted to replace the centre’s existing roof. The proposals also include improvements to the roof edges and the installation of solar roof panels.
The application RR/2026/0206/FULL was validated in February 2026 and is due for decision in April 2026, following consideration at planning committee.
If approved, the council intends to fund part of the roof replacement and solar installation work through CIL infrastructure funding and Climate Emergency funding, supporting both building improvements and energy efficiency.
Design teams for both projects were appointed in late 2025, and work has progressed well over the past few months.
The designs have now reached the developed design stage, meaning the main layout, structure and key features of the projects have been agreed. Work is continuing to prepare the detailed technical information needed for construction.
These detailed documents will be completed by the end of March 2026. They will then be issued to contractors in early April 2026, as part of the tender process to select a specialist contractor to deliver the works.
Project Timeline
| Key Milestones | Milestone Date |
|---|---|
| Design Teams appointed | October/November 2025 |
| Planning Applications submitted | February 2026 |
| Planning Decision date | April 2026 |
| Contractor Procurement | April – June 2026 |
| Target Commencement – Bexhill Leisure Centre | August 2026 |
| Target Commencement – Ravenside Swimming Pool | October 2026 |
| Works Complete – Bexhill Leisure Centre | October/November 2026 |
| Works Complete – Ravenside Swimming Pool | January 2027 |
Get in touch
If you have any queries about the project, contact projects@rother.gov.uk.