Following concerns raised by residents and locally elected representatives, Stockport Council – working closely with Life Leisure and Stockport County – has secured an extension to community use of the gym, studio and football facilities at Stockport Sports Village until December 2026.
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “Stockport Sports Village is a hugely important asset for community sport and for delivering a unique alternative educational pathway. When Covid struck, the Council stepped in with a loan to purchase the site and prevent it being lost – a decision taken to protect opportunities for local people.
This was never intended to be a ‘forever’ arrangement. Now, there is an opportunity to create a long‑term, strategic education and sport proposition, and when the chance arose to work with Stockport County to safeguard the pitches for community use for the next 25 years, we seized it.
This long‑term security is something the Council could not have guaranteed alone, given the ongoing financial pressures created by national funding constraints. Our partnership with Stockport County also strengthens their education offer for the benefit of young people in our borough.
We understand that changes to health, fitness and wellbeing provision will not be welcomed by everyone. That’s why we have ensured that the majority of the limited profit from the sale will be reinvested into improvements at our nearby Life Leisure facilities, helping make them even more resilient, more attractive and better able to serve residents while wider borough‑wide upgrades are delivered.
I’m grateful to the hard work of my Cabinet colleague Cllr Dan Oliver, who has championed the needs of Life Leisure customers throughout this process, and to local ward councillors and Lisa Smart MP for their support in helping secure extended access to the facilities until the end of December. I also want to thank Stockport County for being a constructive partner as we work together to secure the long‑term future of this site for sport and education.”
Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Public Protection, said: “I’m really pleased we’ve been able to secure this extension, and I want to thank residents for the constructive way they’ve engaged with us. We’re proud of the inclusive sport, fitness and wellbeing offer Life Leisure has built across the borough, and our priority now is supporting people through this change. I’m grateful to colleagues at Life Leisure, Stockport County and across the Council for working collaboratively to reinvest in improved, sustainable provision that benefits communities across Stockport.”
