Durham County Council completes hat-trick of projects with Alliance Leisure
Durham County Council’s third leisure centre redevelopment with Alliance Leisure has been completed. The £5.7m refurbishment of The Louisa Centre in Stanley forms part of the council’s multi-million pound investment programme to transform leisure services across the county.
The centre has undergone extensive works to modernise its facilities and introduce new activities that appeal to both older and younger users, promote healthy lifestyles, reduce health inequalities and help ensure the future success of the centre.
“Following the redevelopment of Abbey Leisure Centre and Peterlee Leisure Centre last year, we are delighted that the new-look Louisa Centre has opened. We are committed to providing high quality health and wellbeing facilities for residents to help more people become and stay active, supporting them to live long and independent lives. We have reviewed our physical activity provision across the county and are modernising and extending facilities to meet the needs of people in the county, attract new users and ultimately lay the foundation for better health outcomes for the people of County Durham.”
The Louisa Centre’s existing sports hall has been repurposed to offer five multi-sports courts as well as a large TAG Active indoor assault course and a climbing facility. The site now offers three exercise studios including a dedicated group cycling studio and a virtual offer.
A new Move Hub featuring power-assisted equipment from Innerva offers a safe and sociable exercise and rehabilitation space for those who need support to get moving or with long-term health conditions.
Other facilities include a larger children’s soft play area with interactive play features and a new café offering healthy options.
Essential maintenance works were also carried out at the centre’s 25m pool and teaching pool. Focusing primarily within the plant room, the work will lower the centre’s emissions and help improve the sustainability of the building.
Alliance Leisure delivered the project through the UK Leisure Framework, which is 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.
“We have been working alongside Durham County Council for a number of years now, helping them to achieve their vision for high quality, modern leisure provision. To see the projects coming to fruition, with lots of happy customers using the facilities, gives us real satisfaction and makes the hard work really worthwhile.”