Work underway to extensively upgrade district’s leisure and fitness facilities

Major progress has been made on work to provide new, modern and energy-efficient leisure facilities at the Hydro in Harrogate and in Knaresborough.

The existing facility in Harrogate is being refurbished to provide a 4,300 sq ft fitness suite, a new sauna and steam suite, improved reception and café and an overhaul of the existing gym and leisure facilities.

Outside, the building is being remodelled to provide a reconfigured car park, bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.

The gas boilers have already been replaced with air source heat pumps and 250 solar panels, as well as new metering and energy monitoring and control systems.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said: “We want to create a healthier, more active population living longer, more independent and happier lives. And by investing significantly in creating new leisure facilities and refurbishing others, we’ll be able to deliver this vision.

“Refurbishment projects often discover things that need to be resolved to adhere to current building regulations.

“By carrying out the work now, the building can conform to the latest legislation and be as energy-efficient as possible.”

The project is scheduled to be completed by April with an opening in May.

The new Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is on target to open at the end of August 2023.

Once complete it will provide a six-lane 25-metre pool, an activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, a spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

The existing pool will close and be demolished, to be replaced by the new play area. This is due to take a further 15 weeks.

Like all of the borough council’s other leisure facilities, they will be managed day-to-day by Brimhams Active.

Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, said: “This unprecedented level of investment from Harrogate Borough Council will allow Brimhams Active to further transform from a conventional leisure provider to a comprehensive health and wellbeing company and truly maximise its offer to residents across the Harrogate district.

“And by doing so we can ensure people of all ages, from all walks of life, will be able to live a healthy lifestyle and stay active for longer.”