Council funding confirmed for major new sports hall development in Northampton

The development of a major new indoor sports facility at Kings Park in Northampton is being supported by £700k of Section 106 funding allocated by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), providing major investment in local sport and community provision.

The new facility, to be known as the Sunley Centre, will significantly expand indoor sports provision in the area. The purpose-built sports hall will measure 20m x 25m and will be seamlessly connected to the existing indoor tennis centre via a glass walkway, allowing full access to current changing rooms, toilets and café facilities.

An allocation of WNC’s Section 106 funding had previously been earmarked for ‘Indoor Sports Hall and Courts Contribution’, and following a formal application to the Council, the Council approved the funding on 2 February 2026, enabling the project to move forward.

The £1.2 million redevelopment will increase overall capacity by approximately 500 square metres - around a 20% expansion - enabling the centre to engage an additional 20,000 young people each year and broaden the range of sports and activities on offer.

Plans for the new centre include:

• A 20m x 25m purpose-built sports hall
• Venue space for up to 400 people
• Fully accessible facilities
• Opportunities to introduce a wider variety of sports and activities

Proposed activities include Zumba, martial arts, taekwondo, pickleball, trampoline fitness (“Bounce”), dance classes, Pilates and mini tennis.

While the indoor facility has not yet been constructed and there is currently no confirmed build timeline, the approval of Section 106 funding represents a major milestone in bringing the project closer to delivery.

We are pleased to provide this funding which will play a crucial role in delivering a high-quality new indoor sports facility for our community.
This investment demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that developer contributions are used to directly benefit residents, creating accessible, modern facilities that encourage people of all ages to get active, improve their health and wellbeing, and take part in community life.
The Sunley Centre has the potential to engage thousands more young people each year and expand opportunities for sport across West Northamptonshire. We look forward to seeing this exciting project progress.Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of WNC

Imagine a place where young people can discover their potential, grow in confidence, and build skills that last a lifetime. That's our vision for King's Park Sports - a truly world class facility that inspires more than 2,000 young people each week.
Young people come here to enjoy 22 different sports - from tennis and trampolining to climbing and archery and it’s already a training base for national teams. King's Park currently consists of Benham Sports Centre and Indoor Tennis Centre, but it's far more than a sports centre. It's a place where friendships are made, challenges are overcome, and young people's lives are changed forever. And yet too many young people are missing out.
Cuts to funding for youth services and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis mean it's increasingly difficult for sports clubs to run affordable activities. That's why we're building a new sports hall - to open the door for 20,000 more young people every year. The facility will change lives for decades to come.John Whittaker, CEO of Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs (NAYC)