St. Sidwell's Point over budget

Amount believed to be small

The construction of Exeter’s landmark new St Sidwell’s Point leisure centre is believed to have been over budget.

The city council’s finance chief Dave Hodgson revealed there is a “small overspend as we understand,” following a question by Green councillor Diana Moore at an executive meeting on Tuesday [4 October].

Mr Hodgson added the matter was currently in the hands of lawyers who are negotiating with contractor Kier. A report is expected to be presented to the council by the end of the financial year next April.

St Sidwell’s Point, the country’s first leisure centre built to the super energy efficient Passivhaus standard, opened in the spring at an expected cost of £44 million. The reported overspend has not yet been revealed.

The cost of major infrastructure projects has soared in recent months due to the increased cost of materials and labour, and further exacerbated by inflation.

Neighbouring Mid Devon District Council this week paused plans to complete a new junction on the A361 North Devon Link Road at Tiverton because increased costs make it “unaffordable.”

St Sidwell’s Point features an eight-lane, 25-metre main pool and four-lane, 20-metre learner pool, both with moveable floors, as well as a gym with 100 stations (such as treadmills, rowing machines etc), fitness studios and luxury spa facilities.

A report also reveals the council’s overall leisure and sport department is forecasting an overspend of £300,000 this financial year.

Whilst it said the current financial year “started positively with the opening of St Sidwell’s Point, resulting in the rise of memberships and footfall volume,” it added: “There are still challenges to be faced such a lack of skilled leisure professionals and the current cost of living crisis, which may have a detrimental effect on memberships.

“A three-year strategy will be presented in November, which will review revenue projections, revised establishment costs and a capital improvement plan.”

The report added: “At this stage of the financial year the dynamics involved have created a unique situation where the service could be close to breaking even, through to £500,000 over. So at this stage we would rather suggest prudent forecasting on the side of fortune at £300,000.”