A new £49 million community hub is in the pipeline for the St Luke’s area of Islington, London.

The RIBA has launched a design competition for the civic centre, which will comprise a nursery, sports pitches, 124 homes as well as health and leisure centres.

‘It has been a long-term aspiration of Islington Council to redevelop the St Luke’s area site, including the current site of the Bunhill Energy Centre, in a more efficient way, with modern sports facilities and new council homes,’ said a spokesperson for Islington Council.

The civic centre will take over a site that includes the Finsbury Leisure Centre and Bunhill Energy Centre – a 2012 moveable structure designed by Tim Ronalds Architects – which could be retained, but is more likely to be relocated nearby.

Islington Council’s spokesperson added: ‘The council designed the Bunhill Energy Centre as a modular, flexible building that can be relocated as part of the overall site redevelopment. This move has always been part of the plan and will help us to create the optimum layout for the development.’

The East-West nursery and four football pitches will also be replaced with upgraded facilities.

Councillor James Murray, Islington Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: ‘Through the design competition we will also make sure that local people, and people who use our services, are involved at the earliest possible stage of the project.’

The submissions deadline for the competition is 15 October. Five designs will eventually be shortlisted, and showcased at a public exhibition. The competition will conclude next year, and the winning team can then begin preparing a full planning application.