Folkestone Sports Centre has been put on the market following its sudden closure and is expected to attract a “diverse range of property investors”.

It shut at the end of July, causing 144 job losses as the charity which ran it said it could no longer afford to remain operational.

Administrators Opus Restructuring LLP, appointed last month, previously said building homes on the site cannot be ruled out.

Now specialist leisure property adviser Christie & Co has been instructed to put the sports centre in Radnor Park Avenue on the market.

It is not clear how much it will be sold for but Christie and Co says it is asking for offers.

Folkestone Sports Centre has been used by generations of residents and its closure was described as a “massive loss for the community”.

Documents published by Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC) show there are a number of restrictive covenants on the land, namely that it is used for recreational purposes only.

While Opus stressed no developer has come forward yet, those interested can apply for restrictive covenants, which forbid developments happening on land, to be removed.

Among those opposed to it being turned into housing is Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan, who previously said: “The idea they could turn that site into flats rather than a sports centre is just shocking so that is why I'm doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen.”

The property, which occupies a site of just over 11 acres, originally formed part of the Radnor Estate in Folkestone.

Lord Radnor donated the site to the trust for recreational use only, and the facility was opened by Princess Anne in 1972.

Over the years the property and business has evolved, adding on a Wellness Centre in 1986.

The business had been operating on both a regular user and membership basis as well as for pay-and-play visitors, offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor leisure facilities.

These include two swimming pools, a health and fitness suite, an indoor sports hall, three squash courts, spin and aerobics studios, a health and beauty facility and a café/bar.

Outside are three outdoor tennis courts, an archery area, ‘dry’ ski slope, nine-hole footgolf course and a SkyWalk high ropes course, which was one of the most recent developments, opening in spring 2021.

A petition calling on FHDC to “save” the centre, was set up shortly after the announcement which has gained more than 8,300 signatures.

Joint administrator, Adrian Dante of Opus Restructuring, said: “The administration process will enable the property to find a new owner and hopefully new investment, through an open marketing process.

“We have asked Christie & Co to coordinate the sale on our behalf and any potentially interested parties should contact them for further information.”

Tom Glanvill, director at Christie & Co, added: “This is an extensive piece of real estate on a large site and as a result, we envisage that interest could come from a diverse range of property investors, as well as operators within the health and fitness and wider leisure sector.

“We are aware of the importance of Folkestone Sports Centre to the local community and indeed, we have already received a number of expressions of interest in the property.

“We envisage that following a period of marketing, invitations to submit offers on a subject-to-contract only basis will be made in order that the future of Folkestone Sports Centre can be determined as soon as possible.”

A Folkestone and Hythe District Council spokesperson said: “The council is keen to see leisure activities re-open on the Folkestone site as soon as possible.

“The council has not made any decision to bid for or purchase the site and there is no budget or plans to operate a leisure centre in Folkestone.

“We very much hope that a business with experience of running sports and leisure centres will come forward to take on the site and provide these much needed and valued facilities for residents.”