Last week a group of Hackney based campaigners made a freedom of information request to the council, demanding information which proves that the Britannia Leisure Centre is beyond repair and in need of demolition.

In October 2016 Hackney Council announced that the centre would be demolished order to completely re-develop it and build a new school and housing.

The site of the Britannia has been earmarked for redevelopment so that Hackney can accommodate a growing population.

Central government requirements mean that Hackney must build 2 new schools in the borough.

Campaigners have argued that the Leisure Centre forms an important part of the community and that the new accommodation being built would be unaffordable for most Hackney residents

The Mayor, Phillip Glanville, maintains that it is only economical to refurbish the centre, and said in a statement, ‘the idea that you just patch a building up, that would be the betrayal of the leisure centre…you need a fundamental look at its internal design.’

This means that the only options the council are considering involve a completely new leisure facility.

The consultation on the plans for the Britannia site close at the end of this week.

City Investigates