Stevenage Sports & Leisure Centre

The existing sports and leisure centre facilities, including the current swimming pool, are well used but were designed and built in the 1960’s and 70’s. By combining leisure and sports facilities the town will not only have a much better, high-quality facility on one site, but also a highly improved customer experience, lower maintenance costs, more efficient use of space and a significant reduction in carbon footprint. The building will be powered by renewable technologies including solar panels and air source heat power.

The building will be built to modern, legal and best practice standards and specifications, including being fully accessible. There will be a wide range of options and services which allow everyone to participate in health, wellbeing, sports and leisure activities. This includes but is not limited to the use of pool pods, fully accessible toilets and changing facilities, and buggy storage.

The new Sports & Leisure Centre for Stevenage can be accessed via a range of transport options and cycle storage will be available on site.

The building will not encroach into the main Town Centre Gardens. The design will look to incorporate the ground floor café into the Stevenage Centre Park, providing an al fresco experience. The council is also committed to re-providing any lost green space and will enhance the offer.

Local communities are encouraged to embrace active travel and utilise the town’s 45km of cycleways and pedestrian routes where possible. The building will be accessible via a range of transport options:

• By car. The facility will be served by a car park to the north of the site, with improved access from Fairlands Way. There is additional parking close to the new facility and a multi-storey car park will be developed as part of the Forum site development that will provide up to 300 spaces, conveniently located opposite the facility. An at-grade crossing will provide easy access to the Sports & Leisure Centre from this car park.
• By coach. Dedicated coach pick-up and drop-off zones will provide a safe walk to the entrance of the new facility.
• By bike. Cycle parking will be located close to the entrance and connect to the Town Centre Gardens. A 2m wide cycle path wraps around the current Swimming Centre car park and will be retained. A Beryl bike bay will be installed.
• By bus. The council is actively working with Hertfordshire County Council as the public transport provider to explore the feasibility of adding an additional bus stop near the new facility.

The majority of leisure, sport, health and wellbeing services including the Healthy Hub will be transferred to the new and enhanced by improved facilities and additional services.

No. The proposed new facility is focused on bringing together the sports and swimming facilities currently provided at Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre, and Stevenage Swimming Centre. The theatre will not be moving to the new facility and will continue to operate as normal during the development and after the new Sports & Leisure Centre opens.

As part of the wider programme of regeneration being led by Stevenage Borough Council, the council is working hard to ensure that the town has the space to support small business development, skills and jobs. This includes the opportunity for residents to gain experience in the construction industry. Stevenage Works is a well-established job and training hub managed by Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with a wide range of businesses. Stevenage Works raises awareness of local jobs available in local businesses for local people, providing a free recruitment service along with training courses and apprenticeships, to local people and residents of all ages and experience levels. Morgan Sindall will be working closely with Stevenage Works to ensure that jobs and apprenticeships during the construction period are made available to local people. More information on Stevenage Works is available on the council’s website: https://www.stevenage.gov.uk/town-and-community/stevenage-works.

Morgan Sindall has a clear Social Value Strategy that supports economic, social, environmental and Wellbeing out puts and measures.

Our Instinctively Inclusive strategy is embedded under our Developing people arm which allows us to create a culture that encourages diversity and embraces our differences and is not just focused on our own staff but also available to support our supply chain and customers, as we will work closely with them to support social mobility within the areas we work, live and learn, by raising awareness of career opportunities across our early careers programme.

Morgan Sindall believes in raising awareness of the great opportunities in the sector by our flexible, adaptability and open-door policy as this also allows us to support delivery of Gatsby benchmarks and the new Provider Access Legislation requirements especially when working in Education.

Raising industry standards along with addressing skills gaps by creating a stepping stone into sustainable employment opportunities for all. We also value the opportunity to work with or support local charities as we encourage our staff to give back to the local community and provide volunteering days for them to be able to do this.

The council works closely with local schools to teach children about the wider regeneration programme and the opportunities it offers to them. If you are a school and wish to get involved, please do email via [email protected]. You can find out more information through the Stevenage Even Better website: https://stevenage-even-better.com/skills-and-opportunities/.