Funding agreed for new leisure and community centre in Diss

The new building will include fitness facilities, a multi-use community room, soft play and a café with outdoor plaza seating with stunning views over the mere.

The plans for the new centre have been submitted to the Planning Committee for consideration and also received the backing of Diss Town Council at a public meeting earlier this month.

Councillor Kim Carsok said: "This is a really exciting step forward for this ambitious project. We would like to thank Diss Town Councillors for their support as we continue to invest in the health and wellbeing of the residents in the town.

We have listened to feedback and have made changes to our original plans following our very successful consultation with hundreds of responses. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to give us their ideas. Unfortunately, some suggestions were neither practical nor affordable, but it was fantastic to see that the vast majority of residents who took part in the consultation were in favour of our plans.

“The funding to build the new leisure centre has now been agreed by Cabinet and the plans will go before the planning committee in April."

The new centre is part of a multi-phase project to improve the leisure facilities in Diss. The project began with improvements to the swimming pool. The changing area was upgraded and the gym was removed to create a dedicated Swim Centre for the town. The building was also made more energy efficient with the fitting of solar panels and air source heat pumps.

The gym is being relocated to the new site with the help of a grant of more than £1 million from the Greater Norwich Growth Board. The plans for this exciting second phase involve the development of the former John Grose site, just south of the town’s famous Mere. The site was purchased in 2024 following long-standing request from the local community for improved leisure facilities in the town.

Councillor Graham Minshull said:

For years residents have been asking me when Diss will have better leisure facilities. People looked at our investment in Wymondham and Long Stratton and asked when we would invest in Diss. The simple answer to that question is: right now! You asked and we are delivering.”

The Council plans to create a modern, inclusive space for health, fitness, and community connection, featuring a welcoming café, a soft play area, a spacious modern gym, and a vibrant plaza with stunning views over the Mere. Outdoor seating and scenic views will offer a relaxing place to gather and unwind.

South Norfolk Council would like to thank the hundreds of local people who took part in its informal consultation. The feedback to the plan was overwhelmingly positive with:

• 75% agreeing a soft play area would be beneficial to Diss

• Over 80% welcoming a cafe and would like to see healthy snack options.

• 65% requesting the introduction of fitness classes.

• Feedback also included requests for e-gym equipment and a place that can be hired out for community use.