South Holland District Council has bolstered its successful £20 million UK Government, Levelling Up Fund bid with a £6 million investment to see the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding transformed into a health and wellbeing hub to drive positive health outcomes for residents across the district.

Alliance Leisure has been appointed to deliver the works through the UK Leisure Framework, owned by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL).

Works are expected to begin in the Autumn and will see the Castle Sports Complex completely remodelled and extended to include an integral swimming provision. A 6-lane 25 metre pool will be supported by a second, 20m teaching pool that will individuals, groups, clubs and local schools giving young people access to the facilities they need to develop essential swim skills. Outside, a splash pad will also be added to accommodate families and young children. These facilities will replace the current provision offered by Spalding Swimming Pool.

The new wellbeing hub will also host a sports hall, gym, family activity zone, a fully equipped fitness suite, indoor cycling and fitness studios, a dedicated wellness suite offering power assisted exercise and a health and wellbeing space for appointments with health practitioners, including services to support good mental health and those living with diabetes, Alzheimer’s and dementia. A café and lounge area will also provide a much-needed place for people to eat and drink as well as meet friends and socialise. The Centre’s current Bowls Hall will receive some much-needed maintenance as part of the redevelopment.

Outside, a 3G artificial turn floodlight football pitch will be supported by a separate multi-use games arena hosting an array of sports including basketball and football, with a dedicated track meandering through the site suitable for walkers, runners or cyclists . Car parking will be extended to accommodate the anticipated uplift in usage and extensive landscaping will take place throughout, enhancing the visual appeal.

Councillor Gary Taylor, South Holland District Council deputy leader and the council’s project sponsor, said: “The success of this bid is a momentous moment for the whole of South Holland, and provides vital funding that will be truly transformational to help improve the health and lives of our residents.

“The new Hub will place physical activity at the heart of our community, supporting healthy, active lives. Coupling this significant investment with the design and delivery expertise of best-in-class providers brought together by Alliance Leisure through the UK leisure Framework, we have the opportunity to create an incredible facility that caters for everyone at all stages of their life for many years to come.”

Talking about the development, Sean Nolan, Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure, says: “Transformational investment like this only happens once in a lifetime so it is absolutely imperative that we get it right. Working with our trusted, leisure specialist partners including Hadron Consulting, Saunders Boston Architects, Wilmott Dixon and Max Associates. The team have been involved from the start, supporting the council’s LUF bid and preparing the designs. We will now continue to work with the council to deliver the build. When the development completes in 2026, residents in South Holland will have access to an incredible wellbeing and activity hub, created in direct response to the needs of the community, driving a healthier, happier and more active community.”

Works are due to start in late 2024 and will complete in the summer of 2026. For more information about the build and its development visit: southhollandlevellingup.co.uk. For more information about Alliance Leisure visit: allianceleisure.co.uk