Demolition of Changing Rooms at Southern Road
At the Full Council meeting on 21 April, the town council appointed a contractor to demolish the changing rooms at Southern Road. This is the first phase towards building the new Community & Youth Centre. We’ve prepared a list of questions and answers, but please email us at info@thametowncouncil.gov.uk if you have any further questions.
What is happening to the changing rooms and when?
They will be demolished by mid-July 2026, subject to planning conditions being approved and discharged.
Why are they being removed now?
The planning permission for the new Community & Youth Centre expires in July 2026. By demolishing the changing rooms, we can prevent the planning permission from expiring as we are not quite ready to begin building the new Community & Youth Centre yet. Re-applying for planning permission would be a costly exercise that will add delays to the project, impacting on funding and project viability.
Are the changing rooms being used?
No, and they haven’t been used for over 5 years. The building is now derelict and does not meet the Football Association standards, furthermore its positioning contributes to antisocial behaviour. The football pitches will be unaffected by the demolition of the changing rooms.
Will they be replaced?
Yes, the new Community & Youth Centre design includes changing rooms and public, accessible toilets.
Do you have permission to demolish the building?
Yes, the demolition of the changing rooms was part of planning permission granted in 2023 for the development of the site. The council confirmed at its meeting in March 2026 to continue proceeding with the project and the required demolition of the changing rooms. There are some conditions attached to the granted planning permission which will need to be discharged prior to the work starting and these are currently being progressed. A Demolition Notice (Section 80) will also be submitted to SODC.
How long will it take to remove the changing rooms?
The demolition is expected to take 2 weeks.
What are the plans for traffic management and the car park?
During the demolition works, the car park will be partially closed. We will give as much notice as possible once we have confirmed demolition dates, to minimise the impact. A Construction Traffic Management Plan will be completed by the contractor prior to demolition. The access road will be kept clear during the works.
How will the area be left?
The ground will be levelled and made safe. We will not be landscaping the area, as it will be built over as part of the new Community & Youth Centre building.
Has the building been checked for bats?
Yes, bat emergence surveys were conducted in 2020 and 2022. No bats were recorded in either survey.
Has the building been checked for asbestos?
Yes, a Demolition and Refurbishment Survey was carried out by a specialist company and no asbestos was found.
What will happen to interior fittings of the current changing rooms?
The project strives to be a sustainable build and is proud to be working towards BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation. This means that a Pre-Demolition Audit will be carried out and anything that can be reused or recycled will be. The Maintenance Team will remove any ancillary equipment and rubbish before demolition works commence.
Who will be removing the building?
The council, at its meeting on 21 April 2026, approved a contractor to demolish the building. This was done in line with procurement legislation and the council’s Financial Regulations. The contractor has confirmed they can meet the project’s timeline and requirements. Further details can be found in the Officer report for this meeting.
When will main build start?
This will be subject to a tender exercise and securing the funding. We expect to choose a contractor in July with the aim to start work is to be later in 2026. There will be a period between the changing rooms being demolished and the main building works starting.
Date posted: 23 April 2026
Updated: 29 April 2026 – to amend that the cark park will only be partly closed during the works (not a full closure) and added that the demolition is expected to take 2 weeks and the access road will be kept clear.