Purpose

K2
Crawley currently has a climbing facility which has been in place
since the facility opened in 2005. Over recent years, we have seen
increased competition in the climbing market including clip n climb
at Pease Pottage (approximately 1.5miles away) and a proposed new
large scale climbing facility at Rowfant (approximately 5 miles
away) which has been granted planning permission. Local competition
has adversely affected use of the climbing wall at K2 Crawley and
with potential for an additional new facility, this reduction in
use is expected to be exacerbated.

In contrast soft play facilities continue to be extremely popular
and many leisure centres have found these to effectively complement
the range of other family activities at such venues. Soft play
provides children with a safe and secure environment to develop
creative skills and social skills as well as the opportunity to
improve physical literacy at an early age.

K2 Crawley currently has a limited offering for younger children
and the proposal is to remove the climbing facility and replace it
with a climbing themed soft play facility and parent/carer viewing
area. This change of use would have no associated costs for Crawley
Borough Council, all costs would be borne by the operator along
with any financial risk due to the change of use.

Content

Option 2 – Remove the climbing facility and provide a
new bespoke children’s soft play facility.

This new facility will provide a children's activity area along
with a social space for parents/carers. Current climbing
participants are well catered for at other local facilities.
Decision taken in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure
and Wellbeing.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 – Retain climbing facility at
K2 Crawley.

The attendance numbers for this activity are decreasing year on
year and this is compounded locally by new facilities opening which
cater to specific climbing markets. The reduction in climbing
numbers at K2 Crawley would however mean this key central space
within the Centre is increasingly under-utilised.

Option 2 – Replace the climbing facility with K2 themed soft
play facility

Provide a bespoke soft play facility catering for babies up to
children aged around 12 years old. Attendance numbers for soft play
are estimated to be more than double those currently attending
climbing, thereby providing activity for a greater number of
residents and for an age group for whom there is currently a
relatively limited offer.