Plans in for £51m Springs Leisure Centre demolition and rebuild
Having secured financial approval from Sheffield City Council in November last year, Willmott Dixon is now progressing with the redevelopment, which will see the centre renamed the Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre.
Delivered on behalf of the council, the wider project team consists of planning consultant nineteen47, architect Watson Batty, civil and structural engineer Curtins, MEP from Tace, acoustics consultant Pace, landscape architect FPRC, fire consultant PART B, and pool specialist Barr + Wray.
Located in Arbourthorne on East Bank Road, it will be the first of two major leisure redevelopments in the city alongside the planned rebuild of the Concord centre under the city’s Sport and Leisure Strategy.
A full rebuild was identified as the most cost-effective and future-proof solution.
The new centre will comprise gyms, a six-lane 25 metre main swimming pool, a teaching pool, a five-court sports hall, a spa suite, studio spaces for fitness classes, soft play facilities, a café, changing facilities, a four-rink indoor bowls hall, space for community activities, and increased parking,
Work will be carried out in phases, with phase one consisting of building the new leisure centre on two acres next to the existing centre, as well as landscaping and access.
Phase two will be the demolition of the existing building, as well as completion of external works.
The rename to Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre is in memory of England’s first black football referee, who was also a magistrate in Sheffield and briefly served as chancellor of Sheffield Hallum University before his death last year.
The venue is operated by Everyone Active, which also manages eight other facilities in the city, including Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, the English Institute of Sport Sheffield, and iceSheffield.
