Investment in Charlton to support active, healthy lives
Test Valley Borough Council is investing in facilities at Charlton to give Andover residents more opportunities to be active, stay healthy, and live well.
A number of projects are under way or planned across the site, including a new accessible route around the park, improvements to sports facilities and new opportunities to take part in physical activity.
Work is nearing completion to create a new surfaced route around the park. The route will make it easier and more accessible for people to walk around the park, while also improving the course used for Parkrun. It is expected to be fully opened later this autumn.
Plans are also progressing to resurface the 3G pitch at Charlton Leisure Centre, with funding support from the Football Foundation. This includes new fencing and upgrades to the floodlights. At Charlton Athletics Track, we are planning to replace the current floodlights with LED lights which will now light the track as well as the central football pitch/athletics field. Both the 3G pitch and floodlight projects are subject to planning permission.
At Andover Community Sports, new padel courts operated by Portway Padel will bring another activity to the site, alongside existing martial arts classes. The courts will replace the former tennis and netball courts and the skate park, which have sadly reached the end of their usable life.
Padel is a growing sport, with the Lawn Tennis Association reporting in October 2026 that 1.5 million adults and juniors are now playing across 682 venues in the UK.*
Together, the projects will give residents more choice in how they get active, while improving existing facilities and making Charlton more accessible.
Councillor Terese Swain, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Tourism, said: “Being active is one of the best ways people can look after their physical and mental wellbeing. By investing in places like Charlton, we can make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to build activity into their everyday lives.
“Whether that’s playing sport, joining Parkrun or simply going for a walk, we want people to have opportunities to get active in ways that work for them.”
Charlton and the Pentons ward, Councillor Linda Lashbrook, said: “There’s a lot happening at Charlton. These projects represent significant investment in facilities used by the community. By investing in Charlton and working with our partners, we're creating more opportunities for people to be active and helping our communities live healthier lives.
"We want people to have good-quality places and facilities on their doorstep that help them stay active, connect with others, and enjoy where they live."