COUNCIL chiefs will plough £500,000 into planning for a new “state-of-the-art” sports centre in High Wycombe – but the scheme hinges on a familiar foe.

Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet unanimously agreed to look to replace the aging Wycombe Sports Centre at Handy Cross on Monday night.

But ‘Plan B’ of a revised ‘masterplan’ again relies on the council finding a new home for a running track and synthetic turf sport pitches.

Plans for a “gateway” coachway, sports centre and office blocks at Handy Cross were scuppered last year after Hazlemere residents won a campaign to prevent the track from being relocated to Sir William Ramsay School.

Council leader Cllr Alex Collingwood said a replacement “leisure centre for the 21st century” would be the plan, not a refurbishment of the current facility.

Cllrs agreed to draw a total of £500,000 from the authority’s Major Projects Programme to fund an outline business case and planning applications.

The council estimates the project – which retains employment space and a “down-sized” coachway park and ride – would cost between £25m-£35m.

Additional cash would also be required for further infrastructure costs.

Council bosses say they will “cross finance” this by selling off developable land on the site, Cressex and from “elsewhere” – specific sites were not identified.

Deputy leader Arif Hussain added: “The current leisure centre had a life span of 25 years when it was built.

"It has now been there for 40 years – we need to spend money and deliver a new sports centre.”

Cllr Jean Teesdale added: “People say it [Wycombe Sports Centre] is run down and a new centre would be an asset to the whole district. I welcome it.”

Work on the project is already underway, including potential sites for the relocation of the running track and synthetic pitch.

A business case is due to be presented to Cabinet in November.

WDC will also extend its agreement with management company Parkwood Leisure until 2015. Interim repairs will be made to the current sports centre.

This decision was made moment before members dramatically threw out controversial plans for a new stadium and sports village at Wycombe Air Park.

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