Work starts on improvements to town’s leisure centre
Pictured at the town's leisure centre are Cliff Waterman, the leader of West Suffolk Council (fifth from left), Ian Ship, the cabinet member for Leisure at the council (sixth from left), Diane Hind, ward member (front centre), Tracey Loynds, business development director at Abbeycroft (front right) along with staff and contractors. Photo: West Suffolk Council.
The first stage of improvements at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre has begun.
Under this phase the fitness suite will be redecorated and new equipment installed, including the enhancement of the E-gym. This phase includes the installation of a new dedicated Spin Studio.
Also included in the first phase is work to the existing health suite, which will be refurbished with a modern sauna, steam room and new solarium facilities.
This phase is expected to finish in March 2026; during this time the gym equipment will be in the sports hall and spin classes will continue in the current studio to reduce disruption to members.
The only facility that will be closed in this phase is the health suite to enable works to take place.
West Suffolk Council and Abbeycroft have worked together with Alliance Leisure, specialist leisure development partner, to design the refurbishment works.
Ian Shipp, the cabinet member for Leisure at West Suffolk Council, said: “I am delighted that the refurbishment work on the leisure centre has started.
“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.”
Tracey Loynds, the business development director at Abbeycroft, said: “With work now officially started, we’re excited to see these plans coming to life for our community.
“This investment is all about creating better, more accessible spaces where everyone can be active and feel healthier.
“We really appreciate our customers’ patience during this period of change, and we’re committed to keeping disruption to a minimum.
“The end result will be facilities our community can be proud of for years to come.”
And Ruth Ripsher, the delivery manager at Alliance Leisure, added: “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 project was procured using the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd.