The £330,000 expansion of Burnham-On-Sea’s Swim and Sports Academy has this week been approved by district council planners.
Burnham-On-Sea.com was first to report earlier this year how owners Mark and Sara Cox-Conklin (pictured) wanted to build a huge new two-storey extension at the Berrow Road property, replacing the current paved area at the front of the premises.
This week’s approval by Sedgemoor District Council means construction work on the modern, sleek building will start in the New Year.
The new building will feature a new 15 x 30ft therapy pool with water heated to 90 degrees, a high-tech cardio studio, a dance studio, a therapy spa, physio rooms and new changing rooms.
Mark told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We’re both really delighted to get full permission to proceed and take forward the plans for the extension.”
“We’ve gone out to tender for the engineer and building company and the construction work will start in the new year.”
Sara added: “The building work will take about four and a half months and we will then have internal work to complete, so it will be about six months before it’s fully open. We have the middle of next summer as our target to open.”
“We want the new building to be a community facility, so we welcome any ideas from Burnham-On-Sea.com readers about the kind of activities that should be held here.”
Sara and Mark took over the pool’s lease from Sedgemoor District Council last year following months of uncertainty about its future.
The academy officially opened its doors in July 2008 and has since attracted many thousands of visitors.
