Flintshire County Council has appointed Alliance Leisure to handle the Council’s redevelopment for its leisure portfolio over the next four years, with an investment potential of up to £10million.
Alliance Leisure will project manage, design, build and fund a number of redevelopments throughout the contract and support the facilities to realise income.
Deeside Leisure Centre, a £3.5 – £4m redevelopment, is the first project set to take place over the coming months. The centre will benefit from the redevelopment of a number of disused and underused areas and will provide the Leisure Centre with a new lease of life and longevity and increase facilities for the local community.
Work will begin with six x 5 aside 3G football pitches being developed as well as a roller hockey and multi use games area and the existing changing rooms will be refurbished. Redevelopment of these areas is expected to be completed by the beginning of October.
While work on the outside is undertaken, a detailed study of the whole centre will take place in order to determine the planning for the remainder of the redevelopment.
Phase 2 is planned to see the creation of an 80-station family fitness zone through the conversion of an old first floor nightclub. It will feature free weights, Technogym resistance and cardiovascular equipment, along with two studios and new changing rooms. At the same time the centre will also see the introduction of a Shapemaster Feel Good Factory toning salon. Featuring both Powertone tables and Easytone chairs, the salon will offer customers the general benefits of a regular exercise programme covering all of the major muscle groups as part of a circuit. These facilities will appeal to all ages, including people with disabilities, mobility and stability issues, as well as those recovering from an injury or simply wanting to lose weight.
Phase 3 of the redevelopment will see the rejuvenation of the old ice rink. In order to utilise the old ice rink, and continue to encourage footfall to the new one, an indoor ‘Extreme’ facility will be created. This will house a climbing wall, high ropes course and a skate park for boarding, inline skates and BMX bikes. There will also be an under seven’s soft play zone. The area will also feature a new cafe that will serve both the ‘Extreme’ facility and the current ice rink.
The area used for queuing while waiting to enter the ice rink will be transformed into an interactive centre and will feature arcade style dance mats, a digital climbing wall and trampolines.
Local people will also be able to relax and unwind at the Centre as the final phase of the redevelopment will see the introduction of an elegant but affordable spa.
The front of the building will also benefit from a new facade and the reception area will be refurbished.
Cllr. Dennis Hutchinson, Executive Member for Leisure at Flintshire County Council said:
“Flintshire County Council is currently assessing all of its facilities in order to provide first class amenities for the area. With this in mind it was decided that we should employ the services of one company in order to maximise revenue potential and obtain the best value for money across all of the redevelopments. The Council has selected Alliance Leisure as the perfect partner to achieve this with.”
Ian Budd, Director of Lifelong Learning, said:
“The redevelopment of Deeside Leisure Centre is a great example of how centres can redevelop existing buildings to provide fantastic, modern facilities for the local community, along with generating additional income by maximising usage of all the space. It is important in today’s throw-away world that we start to utilise the buildings that housed old facilities to create new opportunities.”
Sarah Watts, Managing Director of Alliance Leisure comments: “This is one of the first partnerships with a council that establishes a long term contract with a view to gaining benefits across all the amenities. Our aim is to support Flintshire Council over the next four years, to ensure that developments run smoothly and to budget, and that each project is an outstanding success. The first redevelopment at Deeside Leisure Centre will transform the facility into a hub of activity for the community.”
