New plans for a £10 million tennis and fitness centre in York were unveiled today.

The College of Ripon & York St John announced it was going into partnership with Next Generation Clubs - headed by former Wimbledon star David Lloyd - to develop the centre on its playing fields just off Hull Road.

Centre facilities would include eight indoor and five outdoor tennis courts, three squash courts, three badminton courts, a volleyball court, sprint track, gymnasium and fitness centre.

The proposal also involves a health spa, aerobic studio, restaurant, bar and lounge, and the construction of two half-Olympic length swimming pools - one indoors and one outdoors.

But the college is also planning to develop a York Institute of Sport Science and Sport Medicine, which would run research programmes and clinical services.

It says its sports students would have regular, planned access to the club's sports facilities built into their timetables.

And Next Generation has offered to make 500 hours of free use of the centre available to the community each year through City of York Council.

Outreach programmes are planned to identify and develop talent, with college students acting as a bridge between the centre and community.

Next Generation sought to open a tennis and fitness centre last year at Monks Cross but was turned down by planners, who said the land was allocated for employment creation use. More than 2,000 readers subsequently backed the Evening Press petition in support of NGC's plans.

NGC hase lodged an appeal against refusal and it is due to go to an inquiry in May, but this may now be delayed until after a decision has been made on the Hull Road application.

Roy Templeman, the council's director of environment and development services, said a joint planning application submitted by the college and NGC was likely this could be considered by the planning and transportation committee within a couple of months.

But first the authority would conduct extensive consultation with the local community, beginning with a public meeting, which it was hoped would take place next Monday evening.

The college says it will keep the sports pitches and will work with the council to ensure the remaining open space is protected for future community use.

Dr Andy Smith, head of the college's School of Sport Science and Psychology, said the proposal was an exciting opportunity and wonderful example of a partnership where everyone benefited.

"Our students will gain enormously from our involvement with this project and will enjoy a greatly enhanced educational experience, while NGC will develop superb new sports facilities for York."

Membership of the club is likely to cost about £50 per month for an adult, entitling access to the gym, aerobics and pool, with an extra £10 a month for Ace membership giving additional access to the three racquets courts. Junior membership is likely to cost about £20 per month.

An artist's impression of the new sports complex

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