A DEAL has been agreed that will see a 'significant sum' invested in Holmes Chapel's AP Club and it transformed into a centre for the community.

This week Holmes Chapel Parish Council and Everybody Sport and Recreation signed a 25-year agreement for the operational management of the Holmes Chapel Community Centre, known as the AP Club.

Everybody will be making a major investment in the facilities at the centre to ensure that it becomes a 'vibrant and sustainable centre for a wide range of sporting and leisure activities'.

The Guardian asked for the amount of money to be invested in the centre to be revealed but was told it was 'commercially sensitive'.

But work has already started and it is hoped that the centre will be open in the autumn.

The centre will feature a brand new gym, activity studio, function room and bar. The current outdoor sports pitch and changing rooms will be improved.

Everybody – a charitable trust, an independent ‘not for profit’ organisation – currently runs 15 leisure centres across Cheshire East and was set up by the authority in April 2014 to run the portfolio of leisure services that it owns.

The former AP Club will be the organisation's first 'community-led' site and will become its head office.

All surpluses made at the AP Club will be reinvested in Holmes Chapel and all residents of the village will be offered complimentary social membership of the centre.

Corporate memberships will also be available.

Steve Ranger, chairman of Holmes Chapel Parish Council, said: "We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Everybody Sport and Recreation. Buying the centre has been a major undertaking for the community and we must make a success of it.

"Having Everybody on board gives us the expertise we need to run the centre in a sustainable way for the benefit of the residents of Holmes Chapel and the neighbouring villages."

Peter Hartwell, chief executive at Everybody, said: “Our commitment to local residents is to create more local jobs and provide further investment over the next few months, bringing the centre back into use as soon as possible.

"The centre will be refurbished over the coming months with facilities opened as they become available. We are looking forward to opening the new gym and fitness offer by the autumn of this year and welcoming members to this community ‘flagship’ facility.”