Sport England funding gives boost to Sheringham

Date published: 20th November 2019

North Norfolk District Council is pleased to announce it has officially received £1 million from Sport England toward the construction of a new, state of the art leisure centre in Sheringham.

The funding was subject to requirements that ensure that the leisure centre would be an asset to the community and promote health and well-being to local residents and visitors.

Charles Johnston, Sport England's property director, said: "We’re delighted that we’re able to provide National Lottery funding to help create this superb new leisure centre for the community in Sheringham. It will offer users a choice of sporting and wider activities, which is crucial in encouraging people to live more active and healthy lives.  

“At Sport England we want everyone to have the chance to experience the benefits that come with being more active, ranging from mental and physical wellbeing to personal development. Creating excellent environments such as this centre, where people feel welcome and have a great experience, play an essential role in enabling them to become more active and healthier.”

On the ground floor, the centre will feature a dedicated ‘Changing Places’ facility, which offers more space than standard accessible changing spaces and equipment including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist. A ‘pool pod’, a type of swimming pool lift, will be available for safe and dignified entry into the swimming pool, offering greater independence for people with a wide range of mobility difficulties.

It will also include a six-lane, 25-metre pool, a 13-metre learner pool with an adjustable depth floor, fitness suite, community rooms, multi-purpose studios, a spin studio and a café. The design has been progressed with the facility’s accessibility in mind and incorporates eleven dedicated accessible car parking spaces close to the building entrance, level access into the building through the main reception, automatic entry doors within the lobby area and accessible changing rooms. 

A moving floor on the smaller pool will allow the water depth to be changed for different activities and user groups such as swimming lessons, water confidence and toddler sessions and aqua fit exercise classes.

Other features of the centre include a colourful splash pad and learner pool for children to enjoy whilst they can improve their confidence in the water which was a key element of the design, and a range of portable, fun equipment such as inflatables will be offered during timetabled sessions.

Splash will remain open while the new leisure centre is built on a different part of the site.

The new leisure centre is due to open for summer 2021.