A state-of-the-art leisure centre has completed in Hornchurch, East London for Havering Borough Council and Everyone Active, creating a multi-purpose, accessible space for the local community.
Designed by sports and leisure experts GT3 Architects, and delivered alongside Metnor Construction and Paragon BC, Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre opened to the public earlier this year in line with government guidance.
Spanning two floors and covering more than 6,000m2, the facility replaces the existing Hornchurch Sports Centre. The flexible space accommodates a wide range of different leisure activities including an impressive 25m eight-lane pool complete with 250 seat viewing gallery, wet changing village, sauna, steam-room, and an onsite café opening out onto a public plaza.
Associate Director and Project Lead at GT3 Architects, Suzanne Blair, said: “Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre has been designed with a ‘people-first’ approach. We really wanted to deliver a modern yet accessible centre that offers fitness, leisure, and social opportunities for everyone in the community, while supporting wider activities in the park.
“We therefore worked closely with the design team, Everyone Active, Metnor, and Paragon — to deliver an inclusive facility for everyone to enjoy. We’re really proud of this project and we are certain that it will benefit local people for years to come.”
A separate specialist learner and dive pool has been installed to offer increased flexibility for the centre. A movable pool floor will also facilitate a range of activities, from baby and toddler classes through to diving lessons, aqua aerobics, and group wheelchair access.
GT3 Architects also worked with world-leading pool expert Myrtha Pools to deliver the outstanding facilities — utilising the firm’s innovative prefabricated steel tank technology to create the custom pool.
Tom Fletcher, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, commented: “The brand-new Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is a welcome addition to the town, and the local community will benefit greatly from all the fantastic facilities we have to offer.
“The leisure centres in Havering are pivotal in providing a wide range of facilities to the community and we’re passionate about helping more people to improve their health and wellbeing by getting active. We have already seen many new and returning members come to visit and hope to see even more over the coming weeks.”
Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said: “Leisure is at the forefront of the Council’s ambition and I am very excited to see the local community benefit from this addition. Leisure centres play an important role in creating Covid-secure spaces for people to improve physical and mental wellbeing as we come out of lockdown.
“This is the next step in the Council’s ongoing investment in leisure facilities, which includes starting on another brand-new leisure centre in Rainham later this year.”
Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre is also home to a fitness suite offering 150 workout stations with floor-to-ceiling windows maximising the beautiful park views. Three multi-function fitness studios and a large four-court sports hall lend themselves to a host of different activities to suit the needs of Hornchurch’s residents from badminton to basketball.
Header image ©GT3 Architects & David Millington Photography.
