London & South East

Highgrove Swimming Pool refurbishment goes swimmingly

Highgrove Swimming Pool- Middlesex

A £5.5 million project to upgrade and refurbish swimming facilities in Middlesex is nearing completion.

The Highgrove Swimming Pool project comprises the full refurbishment of the pool building, including internal alterations to provide disabled access, improvements to the external facade and the replacement of the existing filtration system. In addition, alterations are also being made to the associated car park.

Volker Fitzpatrick is the main contractor on the Design and Build project, whilst award-winning practice Studio E is the architect with Pick Everard acting as Project Mangers and Gleeds the Quantity Surveyors. London Borough of Hillingdon is providing all funding for the project.

Highgrove Swimming Pool- Middlesex

Design work and the feasibility study for the project took place in September 2010, with construction work beginning on-site in March 2012.

As part of the upgrade and improvement works the ground floor reception area has been given an impressive makeover in order to include a membership lounge, whilst a new lift structure has been installed to provide all guests with full access to all levels of the building.

Additional features of the redevelopment include improvements to the 2,022 m² pool and upgrade of the existing diving boards along with a radical upgrade of associated spectator seating. Male and female changing rooms have also been re-modelled and modernised, as has the club room/private changing rooms.

Highgrove Swimming Pool- Middlesex

Meanwhile, the External facade has been given a facelift and comprises a mix of Aluminium curtain walling and Kingspan Microcrib insulated panels along with re-decoration to the existing gym facade.

Throughout the project some out of hours work – including night work – has taken place, however this was kept to a minimum and local residents were kept informed at all times.

Commenting on the project, Hillingdon Council’s Project Manager for Culture, Sport and Leisure, Mohamed Bhimani, said:

“The Highgrove Swimming Pool was originally built in 1966 and comprises three-storeys and an extension. The extension was built in 2003 and comprises a health and fitness gym – which has remained open throughout the works – so the upgrade is actually taking place on the original building.

“As this is an older building we did encounter a few additional areas of work that needed to be fixed, however we have worked closely with contractors to address these areas too.

“Throughout the project we are conducting an extensive refurbishment and at present the entrance, reception and changing areas have been completed, the lift shaft is in place and the external cladding is being replaced. The main pool and the learner pool have been stripped and screeded and tiling is now taking place.

Highgrove Swimming Pool- Middlesex

“In addition, work on the external car park is almost complete and this has allowed us to create an extra 43 spaces and increase provisions for disabled drivers.”

Mr Bhimani added:

“This is our third largest leisure facility in the borough and sits alongside two new build developments. The site is very important, not just for the London Borough of Hillingdon, but also to local residents and the wider community.

“Highgrove Swimming Pool is a facility that residents truly value and that is why it was vital for us to ensure that the building receives this refurbishment.

“There is already a lot of interest in the opening of the building, with many existing users eagerly waiting the grand re-opening. This building has been around for more than 45 years, so was certainly in need of modernisation, and this project will ensure the facility can provide 21st Century services to guests and members moving forward.”

The refurbishment of Highgrove Swimming Pool is currently on schedule and is due to reach completion in March 2013 with reopening scheduled for early April 2013.

For more information about Highgrove Swimming Pool please visit: www.hillingdon.gov.uk/leisure.

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