Willmott Dixon has received Royal recognition for its groundbreaking sustainable construction expertise, as HRH The Duke of Gloucester visited Eclipse Leisure Centre in Staines-upon-Thames to celebrate one of the UK's most advanced examples of energy-efficient public infrastructure.
His Royal Highness toured the state-of-the-art facility, including the Centre’s modern gym, dual swimming pools, sports hall, climbing zone, and rooftop 3G pitches.
He observed cutting-edge environmental technologies including advanced heat recovery systems, water-saving microfiltration technologies, and ultra-high performance building fabric that sets new industry benchmarks for sustainable leisure infrastructure.
During the visit His Royal Highness also observed activities including a Spelthorne Parkinson’s Group gym session, a U3A Pickleball game, table tennis and a school swim lesson. The tour concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque recognising Eclipse's revolutionary approach to sustainable public construction.
Richard Poulter, Willmott Dixon's Managing Director in the South: "Having HRH The Duke of Gloucester – himself a trained architect – show such keen interest in our construction innovation is tremendous validation of our leadership in sustainable building technology. This Royal recognition demonstrates that we're not just meeting today's environmental challenges, we're anticipating tomorrow's. Eclipse proves that Passivhaus standards can transform even the most energy-intensive building types. The 70% energy reduction we've achieved here delivers both environmental excellence and long-term financial sustainability for public sector clients facing unprecedented budget pressures. That combination is increasingly driving demand across our markets."
Eclipse represents a breakthrough in sustainable leisure construction, incorporating advanced technologies including mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems, ultra-high performance building fabric eliminating thermal bridging, and innovative microfiltration systems delivering a 40% reduction in water consumption.
The facility has already earned national recognition, winning Sport & Leisure Facility of the Year at the Business Awards UK and Silver at the iESE Awards. Since opening in October 2024, Eclipse has welcomed thousands of users while demonstrating that Passivhaus standards enhance rather than compromise user experience.
Richard continued: "This Royal endorsement comes as we're seeing unprecedented demand for Passivhaus construction across our markets. Eclipse joins our rapidly expanding ultra-energy efficient portfolio, including the UK's first Passivhaus 'Plus' primary school and our recent Passivhaus primary school contract in Wales. Customers increasingly understand that sustainable construction is about creating assets that deliver decades of operational savings while future-proofing their infrastructure investments. Eclipse demonstrates exactly what's possible when vision meets expertise."
The Royal visit further reinforces Willmott Dixon's position as the UK's leading contractor of ultra-energy efficient, future-climate ready projects. The company's extensive Passivhaus expertise includes the UK's first Passivhaus 'Plus' primary school at Hackbridge Primary School, the UK's largest Passivhaus secondary school at Harris Academy (both in Sutton), and the university sector's largest Passivhaus project - the School of Medicine for Leicester University.
Developed in partnership with Spelthorne Borough Council and designed by GT3 Architects, Eclipse shows how innovative local authorities can future-proof their infrastructure while delivering immediate community benefits. The facility supports users across all age groups and abilities, from competitive swimming to adaptive sports programmes.
Poulter added: "Eclipse proves that the future of public infrastructure is already here – sustainable, cost-effective, and designed to serve communities for generations. We're seeing increased enquiries from authorities who understand that Passivhaus construction delivers both environmental leadership and long-term financial resilience."
