Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre is set to undergo a major refurbishment with a wide range of upgrades from exciting new water play installations to the complete decarbonisation of the site.

Works are due to get underway in early November and will be completed in phases to minimise disruption to centre users.

West Suffolk Council successfully secured a decarbonisation grant to replace the centre’s gas plant with heat pumps. The decarbonisation works, combined with the proposed enhancements, will improve the centre’s facilities and services to better meet the needs of the community.

Cllr Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council, said: “I am delighted to announce that the refurbishment work is beginning on the leisure centre this November. This is a well-needed upgrade and enhancement, which has been designed to reflect the needs of our residents and communities, ensuring they are the best fit to enable our community to thrive. Careful consideration has been given to how the works will be completed, and the phased approach means the community can continue to access services that benefit their health and wellbeing.”

West Suffolk Council and Abbeycroft have worked with Alliance Leisure, the specialist leisure development partner, to design the refurbishment works to reflect the feedback generated through the consultation process and bring the project to fruition.

The first phase of the project will include the installation of a new dedicated spin studio. The existing fitness suite will also be redecorated and new equipment will be installed, including EGYM, offering modern, smart fitness technology.

Phase one also includes upgrades to the existing health suite, which will be refurbished with a modern sauna, steam room and new solarium facilities. The room finishes will be enhanced to create a more natural tone, creating a light and relaxing environment.

Tracey Loynds, Operations Director, Abbeycroft said: “We’re really excited to see these improvements get underway - they represent a major investment in the future of health and wellbeing for our community. While we anticipate some disruption along the way, we’re doing everything possible to minimise it and ensure that our customers can continue to enjoy the facilities they value. Our goal has always been to provide opportunities for everyone to be more active and live healthier, happier lives, and this refurbishment will help us do just that for years to come.”

Ruth Ripsher, Delivery Manager at Alliance Leisure, said: “We are proud to be overseeing the transformation of Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre for West Suffolk Council and Abbeycroft. A lot of careful work has taken place to ensure that the new centre fits the local community’s unique requirements, and we know that residents will be thrilled with their new facility as a result. What’s more, the site’s decarbonisation ensures that the facility benefits both people and the planet, making the revitalised leisure centre a true asset to the community.”

The development was procured using the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. (DLL), with the project team consisting of Etec Group, Saunders Boston, Varsity Consulting, Hippo Leisure, Hensall and Leisure Energy.

For the latest updates on the project please visit www.abbeycroft.org.uk/bury-leisure-centre-improvements