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Improving Facilities [Capital investment; new sports and leisure facilities in the borough of Rochdale; improving facilities]

During 2008/09 the Trust has worked closely with Rochdale Borough Council and other key stakeholders to develop the replacement, modernisation and enhancement of sport and leisure facilities boroughwide.

Between 2008 and 2011, a total of £33.2 million of capital investment has been committed by the borough council to lead this investment. This is supported by external and partnership funding and from efficiency savings generated by Link4Life over the fifteen years of the trust’s partnership agreement.

Middleton Arena

The opening of the Middleton Arena has been the highlight of the year and one of a number of construction projects which were completed or in progress during 2008-2009.

The Arena, which took 65 weeks to build, opened in January 2009 as part of the major regeneration of the town centre funded by Tesco plc. The resulting design has quickly become a local landmark and a popular destination for local residents.

The £13 million flagship sports, leisure and entertainment centre in Middleton town centre includes a 90 station fitness centre, 4 court sports hall, swimming pool with viewing gallery, dance studio, squash courts, youth gym, 550 seat auditorium and licensed bars. It has replaced three separate and outdated facilities with a single structure.

In its first three months of operation Middeleton Arena attracted over 200,000 visitors, doubling participation in swimming and increasing its gym membership by around 500%. 

Project Summary
Capital costs: £13m. Fit out costs: £0.42m. Completion Date: December 2008. Partners: Tesco PLC, Rochdale Development Agency, Rochdale MBC, Middleton Township

News:
Arena gets Royal visit
Arena scoops top construction award
Stars shine at Arena Launch
More stars line up for Arena launch
Arena prepares for launch day
Middleton Arena opens to public acclaim
The completed Arena is officially handed over
Arena opening hours announced

Photo Gallery:
Arena Royal Visit December 2009
Middleton Arena Launch Event April 2009
Middleton Arena Opening Day January 2009
Arena Photo Gallery
Arena Construction Photos

Virtual Tour:
Take a tour of the new Middleton Arena

Heywood Sports Village

This new development on the existing site of Heywood Sports Complex is a new build scheme that will include a four-court sports hall, a six-lane, 25m swimming pool, a dance studio, a 90-station fitness suite, community and training rooms, outdoor and indoor changing areas, floodlit artificial and grass pitches, and a café.

Grants for the project has been received from the Football Foundation and Sport England who have each contributed around £1 million, making them the largest grants of their kind in the North-West.

As part of the overall agenda to regenerate the area under the New Heart for Heywood community improvement scheme, the new village project is designed to offer not only sport, activity and fitness capability but also access to health, skills and learning. One of the goals of the new village is to improve the health and prospects of the town’s young people and to this end a dedicated youth gym and community rooms have been included in the design.

Work commenced on site in May 2009.

Project Summary:
Capital costs: £10.07m. Fit out costs: £0.25m. Completion Date: October 2010. Partners: Heywood New Deal, Sport England, Football Foundation, Rochdale MBC, Heywood Township  

News:
Turf cutting ceremony gets £10 million Heywood Village off to flying start
Lord Pendry presents £1million funding cheque
"Dream come true" as Heywood Partners receive the keys to Sports Village

More information:
Find out more about the Village project and follow its progress
Take a look at the proposed floor plans and drawings 

Photo Gallery:
Link4Life Trustees take a hard hat tour, end March 2010
Heywood Youth Forum take a tour of Heywood Sports Village

Virtual Tour:
New 100 station fitness centre from Life Fitness

Bowlee Park Sports Centre

During 2008, important improvements were carried out to the centre’s fitness suite. A small staff room has been taken out and the gym extended. Outdated equipment has been replaced and the room decorated. The 25 station gym is now almost twice the size and the latest equipment from Life Fitness has proved popular with customers as usage figures continue to grow.

Further improvements in 2009 include complete redecoration of the centre both inside and out and replacement of the sports hall floor. A new SHOKK gym has been installed in the small hall providing an excellent fitness facility on site for children at the new Bowlee Park school and for the community as a whole.   

Project Summary:
Capital costs: £80,000. Completion Date: July 2009. Partners: Bowlee Park Primary School, Rochdale MBC, Middleton Township.  

Photo Gallery:
Extension of the gym

Virtual Tour:
Take a tour of Bowlee Park Sports Centre

Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre

Work started at the beginning of February 2009 on the extension at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre. This project has been supported by the Pennines Township strategic fund to help promote the Pennines countryside as a major asset in the regeneration of the area and to increase access to active leisure.

Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre has been leading the way in provision of water activities in the North West since 1989. It has developed its range of activities into climbing and walking in recent years and in February 2009 launched a new mountain bike centre. The investment in the centre will position Hollingworth Lake at the forefront of outdoor and adventure activities in the North West.

The building project has greatly improved the facilities available for changing and equipment which is essential to support the on-going development of the centre. It will also create a long needed indoor teaching area where schools and groups can study the theoretical aspects of courses.

The centre remained open throughout the building work which was completed on schedule in May 2009.

Project Summary:
Capital costs: £270,000. Completion Date: May 2009. Partners: Rochdale MBC, Pennines Township

News:
Family Funday launches extended Activity Centre
New look for Lake Activity Centre

Photo Gallery:
Centre extension under construction
HOLWAC Funday Photo Gallery

Littleborough Sports Centre

Some key improvements were made to the sports centre at Littleborough in the first summer of the Trust’s operation in 2007. This included redecoration of the centre and some remodelling to create a much improved adult fitness suite and a new SHOKK youth gym which was funded through a Youth Service grant.

Further building work is due to commence in January 2010 and is expected to take nine months to complete. This will include an extension to the centre to improve disabled access and to create more space for the gym and a new aerobics studio.

The Trust will also aim to secure a grant to create an outdoor artificial turf pitch.

Project Summary:
Capital costs: £600,000. Completion Date: September 2010. Partners: Rochdale MBC, Pennines Township, Littleborough Primary School, Youth Service, SureStart

View the Life Fitness video of the inside of the gym.

Photo Gallery:
Littleborough opens new gym

News:
£½ million sports upgrade set to benefit Littleborough locals

Central Leisure Centre, Rochdale

The borough council and the Trust have recognised that the current Central Leisure Centre is in need of complete replacement with a modern ‘fit for purpose’ facility. A draft specification for the facility has been prepared but the precise location of the building is still to be determined in the context of current feasibility studies for the regeneration of Rochdale town centre and the adjacent Housing Market Renewal (HMR) area. The anticipated completion date for this project is dependent upon this.

It is anticipated that any new facility will include replacement swimming pools, expended fitness provision, a dance studio and additional multi-purpose accommodation. The potential to include youth and community facilities is also being explored.

Project Summary:
Capital costs: £8m. Fit out costs: £0.2m. Completion Date: April 2012. Partners: Rochdale MBC. Rochdale Township. Youth Services. Housing Market Renewal.

Virtual Tour:
View with Flash Player 9: Launch Virtual Tour. View with Java: Launch Java Virtual Tour.

News:
Plans take shape for new sport and leisure complex in Rochdale
New leisure centre moves a step closer 

Marland Golf Course

Plans to enhance facilities at Marland Golf Course have now been taken out of the proposed three year capital programme.