A football stadium, an athletics track, and an eight storey building housing an Olympic sized swimming pool, a climbing wall, a restaurant and bar, and a college with student accommodation.

These were all part of a football club director’s ambitious plans to replace Bracknell Leisure Centre that were turned down by the council.

The News has revealed how Bracknell Town FC director Kayne Steinborn-Busse produced a vision for a major new sports facility to replace the leisure centre, after being canvassed for interest by the council.

But Bracknell Forest Council has said it won’t take the proposals forward after viewing them last year. Now the News can reveal what was in the proposals – and the concerns the council had.

READ MORE: Bracknell Town FC was asked by council to consider leisure centre move

The site would have been dominated by an eight storey “landmark” building facing onto Bagshot Road. Inside would have been an Olympic sized pool, a smaller learning pool, fitness studios and a climbing wall all on the ground floor.

On the first floor, there would have been a spa, a creche and play area, and a cafe and bar. And on the second there would have been basketball, squash and badminton courts and a gymnastics hall.

The floors above would have housed lecture theatres and classrooms for students of Mr Steinborn-Busse’s SB Sport and Education Group, connected to an accommodation bloc next door.

And behind all this there would have been a football stadium with seats for 3,000 spectators and a running track.

Mr Steinborn-Busse has told the News he saw the plans as a ‘second Lexicon’ – the next big chapter in Bracknell’s regeneration. And after viewing the proposal, a senior council official Kevin Gibbs said it ‘matches the ambitions of the borough.’

READ MORE: Bracknell Town FC owner’s plans for Bracknell Leisure Centre site

But Mr Gibbs also listed detailed concerns and planning restrictions that would have to be addressed, in an email seen by the News.

These included that the size and massing of the building wouldn’t have been in keeping with the area, made up of low-rise houses.

He said additional activity shouldn’t impact on the leisure services offered to the community – and these services would have to continue being offered while construction took place.

Mr Gibbs said the college should seek “considerable takeup” of students locally, whereas the plans appeared to focus on bringing in people from outside the borough.

And he said that, as the council wants the town centre to be an “18 hour economy,” leisure centre plans should “steer away from concert venue type activities.”

Other concerns included that the plans didn’t include ways to generate a maximum amount of green energy.

Mr Gibbs also said that the site would have to remain in the council’s ownership. He highlighted that before agreeing a contract with a private provider, the council would have to put it out to competitive tender where other companies could bid.

Bracknell Forest Council is still working on producing a ten-year strategy for leisure services.

In a statement this week, Mr Gibbs said: “The council has been clear that it will not be taking forward the SB Group proposals regarding the Bracknell Leisure Centre site.

“The council is bound by strict procurement and planning rules, which apply to any possible or potential plans for the site. It would be inappropriate for us to pre-empt the conclusion of the current leisure strategy consultation and any possible tender process that may arise from it.”