[L]EADING property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has won a regional accolade for its work on delivering a brand new leisure centre in Workington, Cumbria.
The £12m project that was delivered on behalf of Allerdale Borough Council saw the replacement of an outdated sports centre and swimming pool with a high quality, modern leisure centre for use of the local and regional community.
Beating off stiff competition from across the region, Workington Leisure Centre picked up the Tourism & Leisure award at the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) North West Awards.
Jon Parry, regional director at Pick Everard, said: “This project has put the new leisure centre at the heart of the community and was held up by the judges as an exemplar for other councils, which we are particularly pleased about.
“The existing facilities were very much out of date and would have required significant refurbishment – and spend – by the council to bring them up to modern standards. By delivering a brand new leisure centre, the council has been able to provide high quality, modern facilities for many years to come.”
Workington Leisure Centre benefited from a Sport England grant demonstrating its strategic need in terms of leisure provision for the local and regional community in Cumbria. The new leisure centre has attracted an additional 50,000 new visitors during its first four months, compared with those that visited its dilapidated predecessor.
Under represented and low activity user groups that were targeted by the council are actively engaging with the increased range of activities now available, such as the new climbing wall. The usage by females at the new leisure centre has increased by 81% when compared to the previous centre. This can be largely attributed to the well-lit, attractive and easily accessible new leisure centre located in close proximity to the town centre.
The leisure centre includes a 90-station fitness suite, two dance studios, a four court sports hall, three five-a-side 3G outdoor pitches as well as a 25m competition pool, a learner pool with a moveable floor and a climbing wall.
Project management and cost management for the scheme was delivered by Pick Everard collaboratively with the council’s operator, Greenwich Leisure Limited. Workington Leisure Centre was designed by GT+3 Architects and the project was procured through the OJEU compliant National Frameworks from Scape Procure – Scape Group.
Pick Everard partner Alastair Hamilton added: “Being recognised through industry awards for our work is always something we are proud of, and this scheme in particular illustrates just how important it is for communities to enjoy top quality leisure facilities – the huge increase in users really speaks for itself.”
