Swale Borough Council has approved a £1.5 million package to upgrade leisure facilities and public parks in Sittingbourne, Kent. The funding was announced on February 4, 2026 and formally approved as part of the February 2026 budget on February 5, 2026. The council says the investment is intended to modernise ageing leisure buildings and enhance key outdoor spaces used by local families.
A major part of the package will fund a substantial internal refurbishment of Swallows Leisure Centre, which the council’s briefing says was originally built in the late 1980s. The programme also includes environmental improvements at Milton Creek Country Park and upgrades to King George’s Playing Fields, among other community green spaces.
Cllr Tim Gibson, Leader of Swale Borough Council, framed the investment as a public‑health and communities measure, saying at a Feb. 4 press briefing: “This £1.5 million commitment is about more than just bricks and mortar; it’s about the health of our residents. By modernizing Swallows and investing in our green lungs like Milton Creek, we are ensuring Sittingbourne remains a viable, healthy place for families to grow.” Part of the funding will come from Section 106 developer contributions tied to new housing in North Sittingbourne — the council’s briefing and verification notes indicate roughly £400,000 of the £1.5m is linked to those developments.
Work is scheduled to begin in late spring (May) 2026, with improvements phased through to March 2027. The council describes this as the most significant localized investment in Sittingbourne’s recreational infrastructure since the 2021 town‑centre regeneration (the “Spirit of Sittingbourne”).
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