The NHS has been given permission to use a leisure centre in Harrow as a Covid-19 vaccine site to support the rollout over the next year.

Harrow Council’s cabinet agreed to grant a licence to the health service to occupy Harrow Leisure Centre’s Byron Hall, in Christchurch Avenue, Wealdstone.

It will be able to use the site for at least 12 months to administer vaccines against coronavirus.

Cllr Keith Ferry, deputy leader of Harrow Council, explained the council has also entered into an agreement with Everyone Active, which currently manages the site, to allow the NHS suitable access.

He was also granted authority by the council’s cabinet to approve further council owned sites, such as the civic centre, to be used as vaccine centres if necessary.

The decision to utilise the hall as a vaccine site was welcomed by the cabinet, which sees the programme as a key step towards tackling the spread of the virus.

A council report noted Byron Hall was chosen as it is large enough to support vaccine administration at a suitable scale, has sufficient parking provision, and can be set up to allow separate entry and exit.

It has previously held several large-scale functions, including the borough’s election counts.