A reportedly “under-used” community centre is being sold to enabling a local pharmacy to expand its services and provide improved healthcare access.
Peterborough City Council’s Cabinet approved the disposal of Walton Community Centre on Mountsteven Avenue at a meeting held on Thursday 2 October.
The decision is part of the council’s Localities Assets Review, an ongoing programme launched last year to ensure that its land, buildings and facilities are managed efficiently and provide value for money. The review is designed to ensure that underutilised properties are repurposed or sold, with revenue reinvested in services and facilities that benefit residents.
Walton Community Centre has long been regarded as a local hub. In the past, it hosted meetings, classes and social gatherings. However, usage has declined steadily, with most community services now delivered elsewhere. As attendance fell, the costs of keeping the site operational – including utilities, insurance and maintenance – became disproportionate to the benefits it offered.
Councillor Mohammed Jamil, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Governance, acknowledged the loss of the site while stressing the practical benefits of the move.
He said: “Whilst it’s sad to see the loss of Walton Community Centre, this sale will generate a capital receipt for the council, eliminate ongoing maintenance costs, and result in improved access to primary healthcare for Walton and neighbouring residents.
“Our key aim is that the Localities Review results in sustainable assets that benefit our communities in the long term.”
The centre will be sold to the neighbouring pharmacy. The operator intends to expand into the site, allowing it to increase capacity and deliver new health services to the local community.
The pharmacy is not simply a place to sell over the counter medication and collect prescriptions. It offers a wide range of services including blood pressure checks, free emergency contraception, free COVID-19 lateral flow tests, and support for minor ailments. Maladies such as earache, impetigo, shingles sinusitis, infected insect bites, and urinary tract infections can all be diagnosed and have treatment provided at a pharmacy rather than a GP practice.
Members of the Cabinet were told that the sale represents value for money. The transaction is to be completed with cash funds as an unconditional sale, not subject to planning permission, making transfer much faster.
Independent valuation confirmed that the deal meets legal requirements for best consideration under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972.
The council said the sale removes the risk of vacancy while preventing the building from falling into disrepair, which would incur greater costs. The transformation of the site into an expanded healthcare facility is also expected to support local jobs, strengthen links with NHS services, and keep the site in active community use.
Alternative options were considered, including leasing the property or transferring it to a community organisation. However, these approaches were ultimately declared unfeasible due to the centre’s declining usage and high maintenance requirements.
The sale is one of several outcomes from the Localities Review, which aims to rationalise council property across Peterborough. For Walton, it marks a shift from community space to health hub, a decision shaped by changing needs and the desire to provide long-term benefits for residents
