Works finally start on new £30m physical activity hub to replace old Bedworth leisure centre

An official ground cutting ceremony was held to mark the start of the works finally taking place to create the new physical activity hub
-Credit: (Image: NBBC)


Groundwork has finally started on the new £30m physical activity hub to replace Bedworth's old leisure centre. The project, which has been several years in the making, is now officially underway.

The council previously said the new facility was scheduled to be open in the autumn of next year with the full development due to be completed in early summer 2026. The milestone start of the hub works brings to an end several years of waiting as the project has, the Town Hall has admitted, had to 'overcome hurdles.

Initially the new Physical Activity Hub and new features in the Miners Welfare Park was supposed to cost £27m. The new facility was also due to be open in late 2024 but this was delayed as the council was forced to pause the project due to spiralling costs.

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The project had to be 'economised' to bring down the costs, which included some changes to the proposed facilities. Extra cash also had to be found to add to the £2.5m funding from Sport England and £14.95m from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to ensure that the project could go-ahead.

Works have been ongoing around the site over the past few months ahead of BAM starting the construction works. This has included some trees being removed as well as tree protection fencing being put into place.

The green gym equipment has also been removed and put into storage to be re-installed once the new leisure centre is built. The small all-weather facility has also been taken out.

All the new facilities

The old leisure centre will not be demolished until the new hub is ready to use. Once completed, the new physical activity hub and wider park area will have new facilities.

Inside the hub

  • A new 25 metre, eight lane community pool and learner pool.

  • A four-court sports hall

  • 100 station fitness suite and a fitness studio.

Outside the hub in the park

  • A green gym area

  • A 9v9 all-weather 3G sports pitch

  • An all wheel’s skate park and a learn to ride facility

Also, a new skate park will also be provided following the sudden removal of the previous skate park last year.

Speaking after the ground-breaking ceremony, Councillor Tim Jenkins, cabinet member for leisure, communities and health at the Town Hall, said: "I am extremely pleased to see us break ground on this fantastic new facility. It hasn’t been without its challenges. The project had to be paused and revised due to the world economic situation and very significant inflation, which only makes it more satisfying now, knowing all the hurdles, to see it finally come to fruition.

“We are very proud of this project; it will be an impressive, state-of-the-art facility which will offer so much to the people of the borough and their families, helping to improve health and wellbeing for many generations to come.

"We are very grateful to Sport England and the MHCLG for their ongoing support and funding, we couldn’t have achieved this without their help. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the facility grow and flourish."

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