Sheffield commits £11m in sporting spend
Hillsborough Leisure Centre will be modernised in a project brought forward by the city council from its original timetable of 2030 to 2032.
Sheffield City Council said that work would give the well-used centre – operated by Everyone Active – a new lease of life, with improved facilities designed to help more people be active, support better health and wellbeing, and secure the centre’s future for years to come.
Following feasibility work, refurbishment has been identified as the more cost-effective approach for the S6 facility – across the city, the local authority is committed to the £51m total rebuild of the Springs centre, working with Willmott Dixon.
At Hillsborough, the improvement programme is proposed to begin in April 2027 and would be delivered in phases, allowing parts of the centre to remain available throughout.
Environmental improvements would include upgraded LED lighting, more efficient plant and ventilation equipment, lighting sensors and improvements to the building management system. Options for solar panels are also being considered through separate feasibility work.
Firms working on the project include contractor Vincent Stokes and local architect Hadfield Cawkwell Davison.
Proposed improvements include:
- Refurbished changing facilities
- Investment to the pool hall
- New and upgraded studio spaces
- New health suite
- Expanded and refurbished fitness gym
- Improved access controls
- External improvements, including changes to parking, better cycle storage and refurbishment of the building’s exterior.
Cllr Brian Holmshaw, chair of the communities, parks and leisure policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Hillsborough Leisure Centre plays an important role in the lives of local people. From swimming lessons and fitness classes to everyday exercise, it supports the health and wellbeing of thousands of residents.
“This investment would allow us to significantly improve the centre sooner than originally planned, creating better facilities while keeping disruption to a minimum. It is part of our wider commitment to providing modern and more environmentally sustainable leisure facilities that are accessible, welcoming and fit for the future.”
Bringing forward the funding to get the project up and running three years early will be considered by SCC’s finance and performance policy committee on 19 October.
The proposals will also be subject to consultation through October and November.
