Work on the exciting and large-scale multi-million-pound refurbishment of Altrincham Leisure Centre has taken a major step forward.
Trafford Council has appointed Kier to help transform the centre on Oakfield Road into a state-of-the-art modern leisure facility for the community to enjoy.
Extensive pre work has already taken place since the centre’s closure to prepare the site for its main construction and for the green carbon reduction aspects of the redevelopment to be progressed, including solar panels and air sourced heat pumps. This supports the Council’s corporate priority and commitment to addressing our climate crisis. It also supports our commitment to reduce health inequalities.
The Council and Kier have now signed a contract to complete the main works which include a 25m swimming pool, a 20m learner pool, a pool pod to improve accessibility, a combined lobby area with pool viewing and café, wet side change areas, an inclusive changing places toilet and a health and wellbeing spa facility. There will also be a wellness assessment room, an enlarged fitness suite, fitness changing and dry change areas, two flexible studio spaces, an immersive indoor cycle studio, a four-court sports hall, a gymnastics hub and staff rooms and offices.
The new mix of facilities at Altrincham Leisure Centre – branded move Altrincham - has been developed with support from Sport England, to deliver long-term sustainable leisure provision that gives the best health and wellbeing outcomes for residents – a long term commitment to the local community from Trafford Council.
An online consultation event was held with residents in January 2022, and a total of 576 people responded, who were largely in favour. The investment supports the Council’s strategy and commitment to get more people moving more often, helping improve health and wellbeing, and is part of its Physical Activity Strategy, ‘Trafford Moving’. It forms part of a borough-wide long-term strategy to support the health and wellbeing of local residents through access to affordable, sustainable, accessible and exciting, modern leisure facilities and follows the redevelopment of move Urmston in March 2020.
Cllr Cath Hynes, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage, said: “The health and wellbeing of residents in our communities is extremely important to us and I am delighted that we are completely transforming Altrincham Leisure Centre into an amazing 21st century facility for everyone to enjoy.
“This is not just a lick of paint – we will be totally transforming this centre – like we did at move Urmston and the results will be just as impressive. We are investing millions of pounds into this project as we believe that is the right thing to do to ensure residents are given top-class facilities to help them improve their health, fitness and wellbeing.”
Jo Cherrett is CEO of Trafford Leisure, a community interest company wholly owned by Trafford Council, which manages leisure in Trafford on behalf of Trafford Council, using any profits and assets for community benefit. She says: "We are delighted that Trafford Council have appointed Kier to deliver move Altrincham. Kier has a proven track record in technical excellence and innovative and sustainable redevelopments. The appointment is the first step in our new leisure facility becoming a reality for the people of Altrincham."
Sean Fenner, Managing Director at Kier North and Scotland, added: “We are looking forward to working with the Trafford Council to create the new Altrincham Leisure Centre. Not only will the building deliver first-class wellness and fitness facilities, but it will also provide significant environmental benefits that include decarbonisation.”
Posted on Thursday 15th June 2023