London & South East

Investing in the future leisure of Wealden

Crowborough leisure centres

In partnership with Wealden District Council, Freedom Leisure is investing over seven million pounds in four leisure centres within the Wealden District.

From extensive redevelopments at Crowbrough and Hailsham Leisure Centres, to the addition of new changing facilities at Uckfield and Heathfield Leisure Centres; the works are set to offer an improved range of activities and a better quality of facilities, benefiting the whole community.

“This is an exciting year for leisure in Wealden”, says Wealden Area Manager, Neil Roberts. “We are looking to deliver these significant projects and are looking forward to operating these modern facilities in the coming years.”

Councillor Claire Dowling, Wealden District Council’s Cabinet member for the Community and Voluntary Sector, added: “This timely investment will encourage more and more people to make use of the excellent leisure facilities we provide with Freedom Leisure, building on the tremendous legacy of last year’s Olympic Games. The benefits of staying active, whatever your age, are shared across the whole community, including our local health services.”

The biggest investment is the £3.2million improvements being made to Crowbrough’s facilities. Phase Four is now underway and major elements of the project are coming together.

Currently the development of a new turnstyle entrance, reception, café area, group changing facilities, sauna and steam room is progressing. This is in addition to new offices at the ground floor, refurbishment works to the pool hall and a new roof covering and insulation. A new ground floor toilet, washrooms and crèche/studio has been complete as well as structure/drainage works.

Hailsham Leisure Centre has seen a similarly large investment of £3.1million which has created a new entrance and reception area, café, changing rooms and refurbished gym and studio space.

Uckfield Leisure Centre has been undergoing a £700,000 facelift that has included new wet side changing rooms, new entrance lobby, alterations to the sauna and steam room and alterations to the pool balcony café.

The facilities had to remain operational throughout the works which meant careful consideration went into the planning and phasing of the project and close stakeholder management.

Speaking about the developments, The Clarkson Alliance Project Manager Jade Mosey said: “We’re looking forward to completing these projects and have really enjoyed the collaborative relationship we’ve developed with Wealden District Council and Freedom Leisure. It’s fantastic when we deliver multiple leisure projects in one area because the reach and change to the whole community is marked and there is an all-round revitalised enthusiasm for participation in sports and fitness.

“By offering an extended range of sport and activities it gives residents in Wealden an improved opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle. Two of the sites are shared school sites so the new developments will improve the shared amenities for local school children as well as improved security and safeguarding measures such as better changing facilities and CCTV.”

Arkon Architects are the architect with Lakehouse being the main contractor on the leisure developments in Wealden.

The Clarkson Alliance are consultant BIM implementation specialists and project managers delivering capital investment projects which provide business benefits to their customers in the health and leisure, education, heritage, housing and industrial sectors. The company provides a collaborative and innovative project management service which maximises opportunities and minimises risks to deliver new and improved facilities on time and within budget, creating a shared value amongst project stakeholders.

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