New £460k spa to open at White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley

A new £460,000 spa will be opening at a leisure centre this summer - with work beginning this week.

The facility at White Oak Leisure Centre in Swanley will include a sauna, infra-red sauna, steam room, aroma room and feature showers.

The spa was approved by Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) last year and will replace the existing learner pool viewing area and first aid room, creating a new wellness space at the centre.

It will also include cryotherapy facilities which involves short exposure to very cold temperatures to help reduce inflammation, ease muscle soreness and support recovery after exercise.

The project is being funded by Everyone Active and SDC, with work due to start on April 20. The transformation is due to be completed by the end of August.

The centre’s teaching pool is also set to be retiled as part of a £36,000 investment. The pool is expected to reopen in time for the summer holidays.

While the works take place, lessons will be moved to the main pool, which will also be retiled later this year.

The leisure centre opened in February 2022 after the old centre, which was built in the 1960s, was deemed to be coming to the end of its life and too expensive to run.

Instead, a brand new £20million replacement was built next door.

At the time, the plans sparked backlash from scores of residents due to the centre offering less facilities and certain sports groups being forced to relocate.

However, the new complex went ahead in what was heralded as the largest public investment for Swanley in more than 30 years.

It also upgraded the gym facilities at the site in 2024 in response to demand.

Area contract manager at Everyone Active Hasan Romel said: “Since opening in 2022, White Oak Leisure Centre has seen strong demand from the local community, and we’ve continued to invest to expand and improve what’s on offer.

“The introduction of a spa will add a completely new dimension to the centre, giving residents access to high-quality facilities to relax, recover and support their wellbeing.

“At the same time, the improvements to our pools will ensure we continue to provide a modern, comfortable environment for both learners and regular swimmers.”

Sevenoaks District Council’s cabinet member for people and places Cllr Lesley Dybal added: “We’re really excited to be working with Everyone Active to provide a spa at White Oak, a first for our leisure centres in the District.

“Since opening its doors to the public, there have been more than two million visitors to White Oak. The new spa will give our communities even more reasons to visit this popular centre.”