Alliance Leisure appointed to new leisure centre project for Kingston Upon Thames
Alliance Leisure, via the UK Leisure Framework, has been appointed to develop the concept design for a new leisure centre for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in south-west London.
Alliance Leisure will help shape the new two-storey venue, placing sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity at its core. The design team, including architects Roberts Limbrick, is currently working with community stakeholders, potential future users, and the council to ensure the new design meets their needs. Public update sessions are scheduled for this month, with further engagement on the proposed designs planned for the spring.
The new design will replace earlier plans for a leisure complex after the council decided not to proceed with the previously approved application. This decision was made following the unprecedented national financial situation, which caused costs to rise to almost double the agreed budget.
Located in Kingston town centre on the site of the former Kingfisher Leisure Centre, which closed in 2019, outline plans for the new facility include two swimming pools with moveable floors. The 25-metre, eight-lane pool will offer spectator seating for 150 people, while the smaller pool, measuring 20m by 10m, will feature lighting, water fountains, and accessible steps designed for fun splash sessions. Both pools will be equipped with a pool pod, hoist, and easy-access steps to ensure comfortable use for those with additional needs.
Following extensive consultation and a strategic review of indoor sports requirements across the borough, other facilities will include a 150-station gym, a four-court sports hall, three multi-activity studios, a group cycling studio, two squash courts, a health suite with sauna and steam rooms, a café, and a soft play area. The centre will also feature a fully accessible Changing Places toilet facility.
The surrounding areas will be enhanced as part of the project, including upgrades to the outdoor play area and improvements to the green spaces.
The development aims to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating and will incorporate Net Zero design principles alongside a range of technologies to reduce carbon emissions and operating costs. The building will be fully electric, powered by solar panels and heated by air source heat pumps.
The project team includes architects Roberts Limbrick, Hadron Consulting, Design Active, and Varsity QS.
Having developed over 200 leisure projects, our role is to use this experience to lead a team of best-in-class experts to develop an outstanding new leisure facility for Kingston. We are looking forward to shaping a new, sustainable and inclusive leisure centre that meets the needs of the local community providing long lasting improvements in physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Our specialist sport and leisure team, with a national reputation in this sector, are delighted to be playing their part in the design of a new accessible, inclusive and sustainable swimming and leisure centre for the residents of Kingston. The centre is being designed to provide a range of facilities and opportunities for users of all abilities to promote active lives. Two swimming pools, a sports hall, squash courts, fitness gym, studio spaces and health suite form the key sporting facilities that sit alongside a large café and double height soft play. It is exciting to see the designs developing into an efficient two-storey building that meets the needs of the local community on this important town centre site.