South Norfolk Council explains more about £6m Diss fitness facility on former John Grose site

A district council has revealed more details about a £6 million community health and fitness facility set to be built on the site of a former car dealership.

Last month, South Norfolk Council started the demolition of the former John Grose car dealership in Park Road, Diss, on land purchased in 2023.

But the plans for its replacement have been hit by criticism even before the dust has settled.

Plans for a 55-station gym, which is included in the idea for the site, had some residents complaining that the town was having a “gym-vasion” and did not need one in the town.

But the authority has now explained to the Diss Express that the gym has to be a necessity on the site, as well as a multi-use studio and spin studio, as it was a stipulation set out in a £1.1 million grant awarded by the Greater Norwich Growth Board for the build as well as a plaza area.

Investing in the John Grose site also allowed the council to move its gym from its new Swim Centre in Victoria Road so the facility could focus on teaching hundreds of children and adults to swim.

Now that the council can talk more about the project, deputy leader of the council and ward councillor of Diss and Roydon, Cllr Graham Minshull, said it was time to put the record straight on a few things.

He said: “As with all projects of this size, the process feels like it takes forever, especially when you have been waiting so long for the opportunity.

“It is really frustrating that, unlike others, we have been limited by the procurement process as to what we can say and when.

“But now I can say we, as district councillors, are excited about the investment we have won for Diss.

“We want to get the best return for residents. That means working with the best people and that also meant we had to wait for contracts to be signed before making public statements.”

The councillor also reminded residents that the development was part of a multi-phase project, said to be in the region of £16 million, going into town.

It started with the nearly £4 million improvements to Diss Swim Centre that he felt would safeguard that community facility for years to come.

“The next phase is the development of the old John Grose site and then we have plans for a new bus station and health centre as the third phase. So this is huge investment into the town,” he added.

The council’s initial plans for the ground floor of the proposed new leisure facility will include accessible toilets and changing facilities, a community space and multi-use studio, a café and soft play area.

The authority has said the community space in the plans will be a bookable area for local clubs, classes and NHS health checks to take place.

Consultations on how residents would like to see the community space be used, about the sports facilities as a whole and the equipment to go in there will form part of a large public process at the end of April and early May.

A spokesperson for the council has confirmed it will use the recently empty Octagon site in Mere Street and that other venues in the town were currently being booked so that they could get as many opinions as possible.

The authority believes that developing the John Grose site will also create a better link between the town centre and Park Road and generate much-needed footfall to the area as well as enabling residents and visitors to the town to enjoy the scenic views over the Mere with outdoor seating from the café.

“It has been 10 years since South Norfolk Council invested £400,000 to make the Heritage Triangle project possible,” said Cllr Minshull.

“Since then we have continued to invest in the Swim Centre to keep it open to teach generations how to swim and now we have the opportunity for a step-change in the community with a new leisure provision for the town.”