The council has committed to invest in a state-of-the-art Wellbeing Hub, including a swimming pool.

Councillors heard that a thorough options appraisal had been conducted into both sites, analysing a wide range of considerations including community benefits, space requirements and costs. Officers, architects, specialist project managers and key stakeholders have gone through a detailed process in pulling together key information to make the decision on the most appropriate site.

The decision was to determine the preferred site and the facilities mix option with a further paper to come back to council in relation to the Capital and Revenue budget requirement.

The council highlighted that both sites were clearly viable, however also noted that the Alloa West, Pavillion site as being strategically stronger including;

• The opportunity of a joint development with a new Lochies School that would afford benefits for joint construction, development and shared facilities bringing economic benefits. This could not be achieved on the smaller Bowl site.
• The significantly larger Pavilion site would allow for a more inclusive layout of an optimal facilities mix with the Bowl site restricted and required to be built up in levels.
• The overall footprint of the Pavilion site would still allow for even further, future development allowing the development to be future-proofed. The constrained Bowl site would immediately rule out a joint development and any potential further opportunities.
• Connections to active travel network and how it connects other parts of Clackmannanshire more effectively.

Depute leader of the council, Graham Lindsay, said: “The Wellbeing Hub is such an exciting project that I know everyone will want to get behind. It is so important that we no longer look back, but look forward with innovation and real ambition for Clackmannanshire.

“The Administration want to take forward development that delivers an optimal facilities mix, as we will not aspire to anything less for the people of Clackmannanshire. However, there are clear ongoing revenue benefits to maximising the activities delivered within the Wellbeing Hub. I am pleased all Councillors shared the Administration’s aspiration of an optimal facility.

“The most important aspect that has been critical to our decision is wider strategic context for the Council, including forthcoming plans for a joint development with Lochies and the potential for future development within the site.”

Councillor Scott Harrison, spokesperson for sport, leisure and active living, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a large infrastructure project that is hugely important to the people of Clackmannanshire. So important that more than 3000 responses were gathered during consultation. These responses have given us the information on what the public expects to see in the new Wellbeing Hub and is why we want to take forward the option of the optimal facilities mix option.

“Both sites identified are viable options for locations, but after weighing up the various factors described in the paper and also looking to future improvements to the education estate the Pavilion site is the preferred option.

“Strategically, the Pavilion site has the scope to provide for the Lochies development as well as the space for any further potential developments.”

The Wellbeing Hub will be part of a wider network connecting facilities and providers of sport, physical activity and wellbeing programmes across Clackmannanshire.