Alliance Leisure are proud to have supported West Lancashire Borough Council to deliver a £300,000 studio transformation project at Burscough Wellbeing and Leisure Hub, creating a dedicated group exercise space designed to meet growing demand for fitness and wellbeing activities.

 

Completed on 5th June 2026, the project forms the next phase of investment at the leisure hub, building on the success of the wider refurbishment programme previously delivered at the centre.

 

The scheme involved the conversion of an underutilised squash court into a significantly larger and more versatile fitness environment. Works included the removal of the dividing wall between the existing Wellbeing Suite and Squash Court 1, creating an enlarged studio space complete with sprung flooring, mirrored walls, specialist lighting, upgraded ventilation systems, new AV infrastructure and acoustic enhancements.

 

Importantly, the facility continues to retain one operational squash court, ensuring racquet sports provision remains available while enabling the centre to respond to changing participation trends and customer demand.

 

The decision to repurpose the space followed a review of facility usage and customer behaviour. With demand for group exercise continuing to grow, the existing squash court arrangement presented an opportunity to make more effective use of the building’s footprint while enhancing the fitness offer available to local residents.

 

The new studio provides increased capacity for instructor-led classes, supports a wider range of high-intensity and wellbeing-focused activities and creates a more contemporary exercise environment for members and visitors. The investment is also expected to improve operational efficiency and generate additional revenue opportunities, helping to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the facility.

 

Delivered through the UK Leisure Framework, which is owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL), Alliance Leisure coordinated the specialist project team responsible for designing and delivering the scheme. Construction works were undertaken by principal contractor Universal Group, who were supported by BGH Architects, Bellrock Group, SSL Live and Hensall.

 

The project was intentionally delivered by the same team responsible for the successful Phase 1 refurbishment of Burscough Wellbeing and Leisure Hub. Retaining the established project team ensured continuity of knowledge, reduced mobilisation risk and enabled lessons learned from the wider leisure centre refurbishment to be carried forward into the studio conversion project.

 

Sustainability considerations were embedded throughout the scheme. By repurposing existing internal space and retaining significant elements of the building structure, the project minimised embodied carbon while avoiding the need for new construction. Additional measures included the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting, upgrades to ventilation systems designed around operational demand, a review of electrical loads to avoid an unnecessary power supply upgrade and the reuse of existing plant and infrastructure wherever practical.

 

Delivered within a live leisure centre environment, the project required careful planning and coordination to minimise disruption to customers. Structural alterations, fire strategy requirements and mechanical and electrical upgrades were successfully managed while maintaining the safe operation of the wider facility throughout construction.

 

Seb Rowe, delivery manager at Alliance Leisure, said: “By intelligently repurposing existing space rather than expanding the building footprint, this scheme demonstrates how leisure facilities can adapt to changing participation trends while protecting existing provision, improving customer experience and maximising value from existing assets. It has been particularly rewarding to build on the success of the wider refurbishment programme and continue working with the same experienced project team to deliver another important investment for the Burscough community.”

 

Councillor David Whittington, leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: "This investment demonstrates the Council's ongoing commitment to improving health, wellbeing and leisure opportunities for our communities.

 

 

 

The completion of the project marks another significant milestone in West Lancashire Borough Council’s ongoing commitment to investing in community wellbeing and ensuring Burscough Wellbeing and Leisure Hub continues to evolve in line with the needs of local residents.