Durham County Council has completed its third leisure centre redevelopment in partnership with Alliance Leisure. The £5.7 million refurbishment of The Louisa Centre in Stanley forms part of the council’s ambitious, multi-million-pound investment programme to transform leisure services across the county.
The centre has undergone extensive refurbishment to modernise its facilities and introduce a broader range of activities that cater to all ages. The improvements aim to promote healthy lifestyles, reduce health inequalities, and secure the long-term success of the centre.
The Louisa Centre’s extensive refurbishment has transformed its existing sports hall into a vibrant multi-activity space, now offering five multi-sport courts, a large TAGactive indoor assault course, and an exciting new climbing facility.
To meet the evolving needs of the community, the site now boasts three modern exercise studios, including a dedicated group cycling studio and a virtual fitness offer. A newly introduced Move Hub, equipped with power-assisted Innerva equipment, provides a safe, inclusive environment for rehabilitation and gentle exercise, particularly benefiting users with long-term health conditions or those new to physical activity.
Additional upgrades include an expanded children’s soft play area with interactive features and a new café serving healthy food options to encourage wellness beyond the gym floor.
Essential maintenance has also been completed at the centre’s 25-metre pool and teaching pool. The focus of this work—primarily within the plant room—was on improving operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, contributing to the sustainability of the building.
Alliance Leisure delivered the £5.7 million redevelopment through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. The project team included Max Associates, Axiom Project Services, GT3 Architects, Play Revolution, Hutchison AV, and FT Leisure.