A new £17m wellness and health centre in Leek, UK, will be funded by a creative mix of financing from the UK government’s regional Levelling Up Fund (£10 million).
Additional contributions will come from the UK’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (£1.1 million), quango Sport England (£1.8 million) and the local authority – Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (£3 million).
The building – formerly known as Brough Park Leisure Centre – will be rebranded as MyActive Leek and redeveloped to include a Community Wellness Suite supporting referral-based services, offering specialist equipment and trained instructors to help improve health outcomes for individuals with specific medical conditions.
The centre will be managed by a new in-house health and wellbeing company, operating for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council under the MyActive brand as part of the council’s Move More 2023-2033 strategy.
The project is being delivered by Alliance Leisure and its marketing agency, TA6 and is part of a wider contract for the council. The scheme is being undertaken via the UK Leisure Framework, which is owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd and has contractor Speller Metcalfe, architect Roberts Limbrick and project manager Abacus on the team.
During the redevelopment, the gym will be expanded from 35 stations to 60, while a second group exercise studio and group cycling studio will be added to increase the fitness provision. The current four-lane swimming pool will be replaced with a new 25m, six-lane pool as well as a larger swim teaching pool.
Other key features will include a new indoor adventure soft play with a dedicated party area and new group, family and accessible changing places facilities to ensure the centre caters to all visitors, including those with disabilities and additional needs.
A new reception area will overlook both swimming pools and include a café with seating for 60, as well as a ‘grab and go’ service. It will serve as a hub for users of the leisure centre and an adjacent park.
During the works, the centre will switch to be an all-electric facility, with gas boilers replaced by air source heat pumps. Solar panels will also be installed on the roof to generate 42 kW of green energy and LED lighting installed.
The build will be undertaken using energy-efficient construction methods to ensure the centre operates with reduced energy consumption and heat loss.
Rob Wilks, head of leisure and environmental services at the council, said: “We’re delivering major projects in Leek which will help regenerate the town and deliver health and wellbeing, retail and cultural spaces and opportunities for our residents, visitors and businesses.
“We’ve valued the input of Alliance Leisure on everything from developing the branding for our new health and wellbeing company, to scoping out the projects we’re delivering.”
Julia Goddard, regional director at Alliance Leisure, said: “The new centre will provide a range of services that support physical and mental wellbeing, aligning with the council’s Move More strategy to provide accessible, high-quality facilities and environments for all residents.”
