Littledown Centre, one of the UK’s busiest health and leisure centres, is entering an exciting phase as part of a £1.7 million improvement programme funded by Bournemouth Borough Council and operator BH Live.
Key building milestones have been completed and customers are already enjoying improvements to changing facilities. A large multi-purpose fitness studio has been created and the gym is to be extended from 528m2 to 969m2 making it one of the largest public fitness facilities in the country.
Foundations for the gym have been laid and construction is about to commence.
When completed, the new space will house state-of-the-art Life Fitness equipment.
Bournemouth residents are some of the most active in the UK. With more than 1.45 million visits to Littledown Centre each year and a successful health and wellbeing activity programme improving thousands of people’s lives, the centre is increasing its capacity to accommodate further demand and introduce additional health related activity schemes.
Councillor Lawrence Williams, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Bournemouth Council, said:
“Continued investment at Littledown Centre will ensure it provides the best health and fitness experience for local residents. We are delighted to be working in partnership with BH Live to significantly enhance one of the top performing leisure centres in the UK.”
Since Bournemouth Borough Council entered into a partnership with BH Live in 2010, attendance has gone from strength to strength with 97% of customers being regularly active. The centre provides over 175 weekly fitness classes and more than 1,800 people take part in the ‘learn to swim’ programme.
Peter Gunn, BH Live Chief Executive added:
“We are delivering our social objectives to get more people active; reaching out especially to those living with health issues. The improved facilities will provide additional functional fitness space to benefit even more people and maintain Littledown Centre as one of the best public leisure centres in the UK.”
During the improvement works, temporary gyms are provided at Littledown Centre and customers can access other leisure centres in Bournemouth operated by BH Live on behalf of Bournemouth Borough Council.
Building works are focused at the back of the building and are being carried out in phases to minimise disruption to customers and local residents.
Work started in autumn 2014 and will complete in summer 2015.
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Notes to the editor
About BH Live
BH Live is the South Coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues – a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives. With over 2.5 million visits a year and over £31 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. In 2013/14, BH Live hosted 423 shows, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets, clocked up 1.8 million leisure centre visits and welcomed 88,000 conference and exhibition delegates which contributed over £45 million to the local economy.
For further press information:
Elizabeth Symmons
PR & Corporate Communications Executive, BH Live
Elizabeth.Symmons@bhlive.co.uk
01202 451866