Design Work to Begin on New Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre
Contracts awarded to architect and for technical work
The existing Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre has been described by the council as 'not fit for purpose'
September 25, 2026
After decades of false starts, there is once again home that the replacement of the Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre. The ageing 1987 building has been the subject of more than one redesign but now Hounslow Council has appointed AECOM, working with FaulknerBrowns Architects, to take forward the design and technical work for a new Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre.
It marks the first time in years that the council has committed to a clear design team, a structured planning process, and a timetable for public engagement that builds directly on earlier consultation rather than restarting from scratch. After a history of false starts, the project now has a degree of momentum.
The idea of replacing Brentford Fountain has been circulating since the mid-2000s, when the building’s age and maintenance needs first prompted discussions about redevelopment. Over the years, the centre became entangled in wider regeneration plans for Brentford High Street, the South Side development, and later the borough’s broader housing strategy. Each time the surrounding schemes shifted, the leisure centre plans were pushed back.
Residents who took part in consultations in 2014, 2017 and again in 2024–25 often expressed the same frustration: they were being asked what they wanted from a new centre, but the new centre never came. More than 900 people responded to the most recent engagement round, emphasising swimming provision, accessible fitness facilities and family-friendly spaces — priorities that have remained remarkably consistent across every consultation cycle.
This time, the council insists, those views are shaping a real design process rather than feeding another round of conceptual sketches.
The emerging proposals include modern swimming pools with moveable floors, interactive water-play facilities, a larger gym, sports hall, fitness studios, improved changing facilities and new family and community spaces. The council frames the project as part of its ambition for a “Fairer Future”, with investment targeted at giving Brentford residents better opportunities to live healthy, active lives.
The redevelopment is tied to a wider regeneration scheme that includes flats and improved public realm. The residential element will help fund the leisure centre and reduce the amount the council needs to borrow.
A second round of engagement is planned for October and November, giving residents another chance to shape the design before it moves into formal planning stages.
Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, acknowledged both the affection for the existing centre and the long delays that have left it struggling to meet modern expectations.
“Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre has served the community for nearly 40 years – I have visited frequently, both as a child and more recently with my own family. But the building is ageing and no longer fit for purpose,” he said. “We now have an opportunity to create a modern leisure centre that meets the growing requirements of the area.”
Councillor Salmon Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm, emphasised the importance of getting the design right after so many years of uncertainty. “We want the new Brentford Fountain to be a place everyone can use and enjoy. Residents have told us what matters to them and, as the plans develop, we’ll keep listening to make sure those priorities are reflected in the new centre.”
For now, Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre remains open as normal, with no closure date set.
Further information and upcoming engagement opportunities are available on the council’s Let’s Talk website.
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