The much-anticipated Whitchurch Swimming & Fitness Centre has now been officially completed, marking a major milestone for the local community.
Delivered in partnership with Alliance Leisure and procured through the UK Leisure Framework (UKLF), the state-of-the-art facility will open its doors to the public on 19th March. It replaces the former leisure centre, which was closed in 2020 due to structural concerns.
The new centre features a 25-metre, six-lane community swimming pool with a movable floor, a 41-station fitness suite, multi-purpose rooms, accessible changing facilities, and a café. Designed to meet the needs of the local community, the modern facility is expected to attract visitors from the wider region, support local economic growth, and create new opportunities for nearby businesses. Importantly, five local primary schools will benefit from access to the centre’s high-quality facilities.
Sustainability has been central to the development, with the building designed to BREEAM Excellent standards. Adopting a ‘Fabric First’ approach, the facility incorporates thermally efficient cladding, roofing and glazing to minimise heat loss. In addition, solar panels have been installed to help reduce reliance on grid electricity, and high-efficiency air source heat pumps provide sustainable heating and cooling throughout the building.
The £13.7 million project, funded by the council, is opening an impressive 10 weeks ahead of schedule, thanks to the exceptional collaboration of all parties involved. The development was delivered through the UK Leisure Framework, with support from Pellikaan Construction, Roberts Limbrick Architects, Greenwood Projects as Principal Designer, Design Active providing technical support on behalf of the council, and Axiom Project Services as Project Managers. The centre will be operated by Serco.