Step forward for Waterfront leisure development vision in Hartlepool

The development could include up to three swimming pools, a health suite, fitness studios, a gym, a family play facility, a café/refreshments area and function rooms – though the exact make-up of the facilities is yet to be finalised.

It’s part of a planned huge investment in leisure facilities across the town, with Brierton Sports Centre, the Headland Sports Centre, Grayfields Recreation Ground and Pavilion and Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club also earmarked for improvement.

It will sit alongside other improvements to the wider Waterfront site, including the creation of a new events space which will enable the Council to build on the success of the annual Hartlepool Waterfront Festival.

Hartlepool Borough Council is now advertising for a lead consultant, backed by and multi-skilled team, to develop a full design programme for the new recreational attraction, which will draw in both local visitors and tourists.

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of the Council, said: “Once we have appointed a lead consultant, work will be able to forge ahead on designing a major leisure facility fit for the 21st century for the people of Hartlepool.

“I am very proud and enormously excited at the thought of creating a state-of-the-art complex which – together with our other major investment in leisure facilities across the town – will bring so many benefits to local people, including health, social and economic.

He added: “I would also take this opportunity to again encourage people to take part in our ongoing online survey to shape the future provision of sport and physical activity in Hartlepool, as this will play an important part in determining the blend of facilities at the new Waterfront recreational development.”

The closing date for the first stage of the tendering process is July 31 – for full details visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/advertisements-for-forthcoming-contracts.

The bulk of the funding for the improvements will come from the Council’s Capital Investment Programme, which includes significant sums of money provided by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

Coun Moore said: “I would like to once again thank the Tees Valley Combined Authority, without whose support we might not be in this exciting position.”

A sport and physical activity survey is also running until Tuesday July 7 and can be completed at https://tinyurl.com/activehartlepool

The survey which comprises 30 questions, is open to all, but the council is particularly keen to engage with people who do not normally use its facilities and those who are perhaps less active.

Head of Leisure, Recreation and Participation Ian Gardiner said: “We hope the survey will enable us to find out more about people’s habits prior to the coronavirus emergency and what they would like to see post-lockdown.

“We are keen to find out what barriers are preventing people from being active and, in turn, understand how we can help overcome these in the future.

“The insight that it will provide will be key to the development of quality services and facilities going forward - including improvements at Headland Sports Hall, Brierton Leisure Centre and plans for the proposed new leisure centre on the Waterfront site.

“We’ve had a very good response so far, but we are keen to get the views of as many people as possible. If you haven’t already, then please complete the survey before July 7.

“As well as helping to influence our future plans on a strategic level, the information from the survey will also assist us operationally in helping to shape what we deliver, how we deliver it, to whom and where, reflecting the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on our activity habits and needs.”

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