Works begin on £38m leisure and wellbeing hub

Following a detailed pre-construction process, works are now underway on a new, £38 million leisure and wellbeing hub in Caerphilly, Wales.

The new facility will be conveniently located close to the town’s public transport hub, providing improved accessibility for residents across the whole county borough.

The development is transforming an area of dis-used scrub land into a vibrant community hub that will support and encourage healthy, active lives.

Alliance Leisure has been appointed by Caerphilly County Borough Council to deliver the project and will work alongside Morgan Sindall (Contractor), Architect Watson Batty with Hadron Consulting overseeing project management through the UK Leisure Framework, owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL).

Julia Goddard, Regional Director at Alliance Leisure, says: “The Alliance team has been working with the council on this project since 2022 so it is fantastic to finally see a vision being turned into a reality” “The new building integrates modern technologies to create an efficient, air source powered environment, housing an array of innovative facilities that directly match the needs of the community.”

“Once open, the Caerphilly Leisure and Wellness Hub will transform the lives of people living in the town and the surrounding areas. The facilities have been designed to accommodate the needs of everyone and to support individuals across their entire life journey. Children who will enjoy the facilities now will grow up and enjoy the facilities with their own children and then their children’s children in years to come.”

When complete, the two-storey, timber clad building will house a 6 -Lane swimming pool and wet play area served by a large changing zone, a state-of-the-art health suite, a comprehensive fitness suite, kitted-out with cardiovascular and strength training equipment, two flexible studio spaces, a group cycle studio, two squash courts and a power-assisted wellness suite. The building also includes a café, a large adventure play facility, a TAGactive Arena, lounge area, two flexible consultation rooms, and a dedicated social space for use by community groups. All facilities will be fully accessible and will include a Changing Places facility and a pool pod for assisted access in and out of the water.

Councillor Chris Morgan says: “The opportunity to create a purpose-built leisure and wellbeing centre designed to cater directly for the diverse social, health and wellbeing needs of our community is a once in a generation opportunity. Working with Alliance Leisure, through the UK Leisure Framework, we are engaging leisure expertise at all levels of

the supply chain to design and build a leisure and wellness hub that will stand out as one of the finest in the UK.”

Part of the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking regeneration plan, £20 million of the project funds have been secured through the government’s Levelling Up Fund with the remainder being covered by reserves held by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Rob Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall's Cardiff team, concludes: "The start of construction at Caerphilly’s new £38 million Leisure and Wellbeing Hub marks a significant step towards major investment in health and wellbeing for the local community. Transforming underutilised land into a vibrant hub for all ages is a great example of effective regeneration in action that will benefit everyone.

“What makes this project particularly meaningful is its inclusive approach - combining traditional fitness spaces with innovative features like the TAGactive Arena and a power-assisted wellness suite, making the hub accessible to people of all abilities and generations. We’re proud to be working with Alliance Leisure, Watson Batty Architects and Hadron Consulting to bring this vision to life, using forward-thinking construction techniques to deliver a sustainable and efficient facility.”