Camden Council unveils leisure centre ‘built for the future’
Talacre Community Sports Centre in Kentish Town has been redeveloped to create a centre that is accessible for everyone and sustainable for the future.
The redevelopment has delivered substantial improvements to the centre’s infrastructure and facilities, with the phased opening of new areas now completed.
A launch event took place on Thursday 11 June to celebrate the success of the project and showcase the newly developed areas to partners and community groups.
Strengthening the centre’s role as Camden’s hub for learning and development in sport and fitness, the redevelopment now accommodates more than twice as many students and includes a new purpose-built gymnasium with specialist equipment designed to support younger gymnasts and residents with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).
During the event, attendees were treated to a performance from members of the Camden Gymnastics Club, who trained at Talacre from the age of 3 and previously qualified to compete at Women’s Artistic Gymnastics British Championships.
In attendance was Camden Council Leader Sagal Abdi-Wali and Cllr Pat Callaghan, Camden’s Cabinet Member for Community Resilience. Both gave speeches praising the renovations at Talacre Sports Community Centre as a major enhancement to local sport, leisure, and wellbeing for Camden’s residents and visitors.
“The transformation of this centre reflects Camden’s commitment to giving residents better access to sport, leisure and wellbeing. We’re now able to expand our fantastic sports education programme, providing opportunities for young people to build confidence, skills and positive futures – with the expanded spaces and new specialist equipment enabling a wider and more inclusive programme of activities for all. This is a centre built for the future – and a centre for everyone in Camden.”
“It’s so encouraging to see our communities are enjoying the new and improved Talacre Community Sports Centre, reflected in the 110,000 visitors and 15% increase in memberships since redevelopment. We want everyone in Camden to have access to high quality sports and leisure facilities, which is why we’ve created modern, flexible spaces for a diverse range of activities, and enhanced reception and café areas for communities to connect in welcoming social spaces.”
Sustainability has also been a key component of the redevelopment, having been delivered in line with the Council’s carbon reduction programme – meaning the centre’s carbon emissions are now near net-zero.
Cllr James Slater, the new Cabinet Member for Planning and a Sustainable Camden, spoke to attendees about aspects of the project that were delivered through the Council’s Green Space Investment Programme, namely the refurbished play area and improved landscaping works connecting the Centre to Talacre Town Green.
Key improvements delivered
- A dedicated classroom for Sports Education and Training accommodating up to 45 young people
- A new gymnasium with a capacity of 15 designed to support younger gymnasts and residents with SEND
- A new exercise studio as large as 1.5 badminton courts for classes and community programmes
- A new play area catering for a wider range of ages and abilities
- A new park entrance and public realm that connects the Sports Centre and Talacre Town Green.
- New community room space
- A new, park facing cafe and public toilets, accessed by new doors opening onto Talacre Town Green.
- A new Changing Places facility
- Replacement of the sports hall floor and wider refurbishment works throughout the building
The redevelopment was made possible following a successful bid to the Government’s Local Regeneration Fund.
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, joined the event and hailed the redeveloped Talacre Community Sports Centre as a milestone success of the Fund:
"More young people now have access to modern sports facilities and community spaces - from gyms to sports halls - thanks to support from the government.
"The redevelopment of Talacre Community Sports Centre will help to generate the positive change the Camden community is looking for.”
Additional funding contributions were provided by the Council, the London Marathon Foundation, and the HS2 Community and Business Funds, with the total project valued at £5.4million.
Further information
Located between Kentish Town and Chalk Farm, Talacre in Camden is a renowned community success story. The 2.5 acre site was transformed in the 1970s into a community park.
The park's Talacre Play Centre opened in 1975, founded by Jerry Williams, who became Camden's first Black mayor. In 2003, the area was redeveloped to accommodate Talacre Community Sports Centre.
Later this month, a very special mural will be unveiled outside Talacre Community Sports Centre. Artist Matt Small has created mixed-media artworks, presenting four stories or “Blossoms” from our Caribbean communities’ public service, activism, cultural identity and unity. “The Blossom of Service” artwork will highlight the work of Camden’s first Black mayor, Jerry Williams, who was instrumental in the development of Talacre Park to the remarkable space that it is today.