Site work begins on District Councils £12m leisure centre

Dr Bryan Jackson OBE, Chairman of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) who will unveil the Foundation Stone at 11am on 10 March, said: “I’m delighted to be involved in this ceremony to mark work getting underway on site.

“Through our Brownfield Land Action Plan (BLAP) project and Derbyshire Economic Partnership, we are investing £3.7m into this project which will bring real benefits to local residents and visitors to the Derbyshire Dales. It is extremely positive that the build will incorporate renewable energy features which are important as we try to ensure the region moves to a low carbon economy.”

The new all-year all-weather attraction located on a brownfield site above the A6 road between Matlock and Darley Dale is on schedule to open by summer 2011.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has committed £7 million to the overall cost, supported by significant grants from emda, the Derbyshire Economic Partnership and Sport England.

There is the promise too of a major financial contribution from Matlock Area Recreation and Sports Group (MARS), which comprises local residents and representatives from sports clubs and community groups. MARS has played an important role in representing local people in on-going consultation discussions with the District Council.

The new leisure centre will include a moveable floor in the centre’s eight-lane competition swimming pool and incorporates significant renewable energy features to minimise the new building’s carbon footprint. These include solar panels, rainwater recovery and Combined Heating and Power (CHP).

“Responding to the views of local people has been a crucial part of the development process, while the renewable energy features reaffirm the District Council’s commitment to take a lead in combating climate change,” said Cllr Geoff Stevens, Deputy Leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council and Chairman of the District Council’s Central Area Leisure Centre Sub-Committee.

“Derbyshire Dales District Council recognises that sustainability is a serious issue. In its stewardship of the development of a landmark regional leisure development, the District Council has sought to balance the economic, social and environmental needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations.”
The new development incorporates a swimming facility that meets regional and county level competition requirements, together with a main sports hall comprising county standard badminton courts and facilities for indoor hockey, basketball, volleyball, five-a-side football, netball, gymnastics and cricket nets.
A second hall will accommodate aerobics, dance, fitness classes, martial arts, parties, table tennis and yoga.
Also factored in are a café, meeting rooms and a community room to replace the present Darley Dale Community Centre, while outside, in addition to existing football pitches, footways and ecological corridors are planned.
Access to the site is already established from the A6 road. On site parking will also be created.
Local construction company Morgan Ashurst, which is based at The Phoenix Centre, Nottingham, is the main contactor for the project and Drivers Jonas of Manchester are acting as project managers for the District Council, heading a Design Team containing all the required disciplines for such a complex project.
 
“We are building the Central Area Leisure Centre in the heart of the community and we want local people to be involved every step of the way,” said Lee Dobb, Morgan Ashurst project manager. “As part of this commitment, we will be using local supply chain partners and labour whenever we can to maximise benefit from this scheme.”