English Project museum could share site with River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester

Winchester City Council wants to demolish River Park Leisure Centre and replace it with a new complex on the same site.

Now volunteers leading the English Project want to share the new building and make River Park a cultural and sporting landmark.

Professor Bill Lucas, one of the trustees, said: “It’s a very good location and we are in discussion with the council. Option one for us would be for a world class sports centre at Bar End so we could use whatever space is left as an exciting cultural centre.

“But if River Park is rebuilt on site there is no reason why we could not move in. I think a deal could be made. If we combine a major cultural centre and a world class sports complex I think it would be quite compelling for visitors.”

The English Project initially wanted to use Woolstaplers Hall, a Victorian redbrick warehouse, as part of the Silver Hill development but plans fell through because of a lack of space.