St Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre is set to benefit from a “crucial” investment worth £2.5 million.

The building will close on Monday, March 31, and is expected to reopen in the autumn to allow for essential repairs, including the replacement of the sports hall roof.

It comes after Southampton City Council invited charities and community groups to apply to take on a long lease for the centre, in St Mary's Road.

Some of the team who saved Oaklands Community Pool in Lordshill from closure a decade ago formed Saint Marys Leisure Centre CIO, with the aim of operating St Mary's Leisure Centre.

The city council is in discussion with “several interested parties,” with the authority planning to announce the new operator in the summer.

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In a statement, Cllr Lorna Fielker, leader of Southampton City Council, said the upcoming refurbishment would be crucial for the leisure centre, that’s been an “integral part of the community for years.”

She said: “St Mary’s Community and Leisure Centre has been an integral part of the local community for many years, offering a wide range of leisure, wellbeing, and community facilities.

“The upcoming refurbishment is crucial in ensuring the building remains fit for purpose and continues to be a venue where people can visit, exercise, and enjoy for many years to come.

“As a council, we are committed to maximising the building’s potential and ensuring it continues to support the community for years to come.”

The council believes the multi-million-pound funding will help safeguard the Grade-II listed building’s future as a “vital community asset.”

St Mary’s Community Leisure Centre was closed in 2021 by the Conservative administration, but when Labour regained control of the council, the site was reopened in August 2022, following a campaign by residents.

The centre is currently managed by charity Active Nation, with facilities including a gym, badminton and squash courts, a hall for hire and activity rooms.