Eversley Leisure Centre

A new 836 Sqm facility has been erected on the east side of the existing Eversley Leisure Centre in Basildon, Essex. The facility will house a new four lane swimming pool along with changing facilities, showers, and W/Cs. To accommodate for the increased leisure centre capacity, part of the scope of works required increasing parking provisions by 50 spaces.

Key Stats

An extension to the existing Eversley Leisure Centre which houses a new four lane 25m swimming pool.
Remodelling works within the existing centre and refurbishment to the existing changing rooms.
Increase in 50 spaces to the external car park
EPC Rating A
Client Satisfaction 9/10
Delivered through the Essex Construction Framework (ECF2)

At a Glance

Client

Basildon Borough Council

Budget

£6.3 million

Completion

November 2023

Location

Basildon, Essex

Framework

Essex County Council’s Construction Framework 2 (ECCF2)

Sector

Leisure

Social value

£5.9 million

Sustainability

100% Timber procured from responsible sources

A new leisure facility

The Eversley Leisure Centre in Pitsea welcomed a new four lane swimming pool, which was handed over to the client in November 2023. The new facility has been provided by Basildon District Council to support the increased population within Pitsea and provide the local community with wet leisure facilities; something that previously wasn’t available at the leisure centre.

The new facility will also enable swimming programmes to take place within the community for both leisure and health and fitness purposes. Local schools will also be able to benefit from swimming lessons for pupils.

The form of structure for the new extension is steel frame with metal composite cladding panels for the walls and a bauder roof finish. There are reinforced concrete slabs used under the swimming pool which was proposed based on bench marking data from leisure centres we had built recently. The bench marking data helped the team understand the best materials to use and the most efficient way to build the building.

Innovative concrete install to reduce programme time

The project commenced on the grounds of the existing leisure centre which remained operational during the construction. Along with ensuring the swimming pool would be available for January (peak gym season), it was fundamental to complete the project swiftly with as little disruption as possible.

The team built in many time saving methods during pre-construction, such as a reducing the mobilisation period and combating lengthy material lead in times by accelerating to RIBA stage 5 early. However, one of the key innovations the project team opted for, was an alternative concrete install technique for the swimming pool shell called Shotcrete. Shotcrete is an alternative method for applying concrete, which is where concrete is pumped through a hose and pneumatically projected at high speeds onto a surface. The use of Shotcrete provided a speedier finish, completing in half the time compared to traditional concrete methods as it only requires one light back shutter. The Shotcrete technique also provided carbon savings and was a major contributor in reducing the overall carbon impact of the project by 410T carbon.

A sustainable leisure centre which achieved an EPC Rating A

Conventionally, wet leisure centres have a higher carbon footprint than other buildings due to swimming pool energy demands. However, the new leisure centre extension achieved an EPC Rating A, which is one of only a few leisure centres in the UK to do so. This was achieved by implementing renewable energy sources such as PV and Solar thermal panels on the roof along with Air Handling Units (AHU) within the facility.

During the build of the extension, the project team had signed up to Pallet Loop and Community Wood Recycling to help reduce the embodied carbon on the project. Community Wood provide a commercial waste wood service whereby they collect unused wood from construction businesses and find a new use for it, rather than the wood going to landfill. The team not only sell timber but also produce a range of products which are sold for charity.

Over £5.9m reinvested back into the community.

The overall project has contributed to the local economy, particularly providing employment and work experience opportunities. The project team included three apprentices and one work experience student, Freddy Smith. Freddy was first introduced to the team by Helen Clements – Senior Social Value Manager for Morgan Sindall in the Eastern region. Freddy got in touch with Helen via the Virtual Work Experience initiative which aims to support school years 10-13 with valuable work experience and learn new skills.

The project team also donated over 50 Easter Eggs to a charity event at the leisure centre raising money for Dementia UK.

The new pool has been a huge success since it opened at the end of last year. It’s fantastic to see local people embrace the new facilities and get active. I am grateful to Morgan Sindall Construction for their work building an inclusive and accessible new pool, and to Everyone Active for their ongoing support managing the centre. Together we have delivered a real asset for Pitsea and the surrounding area, which I know will be enjoyed for many years to come.”

Cllr Jeff Henry, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, Leisure, Arts and Culture at Basildon Council

“We were thrilled to partner with Morgan Sindall in bringing this state-of-the-art facility to life. It’s an inclusive space that addresses the specific needs of the local community, fulfilling the demand for pool facilities in Pitsea and enhancing the wellbeing of our residents. Locals of all ages and abilities can embark on a journey towards a healthier, more active lifestyle, and the positive effects are already apparent. We look forward to witnessing its positive impact unfold over the months and years to come.”

Shaun Beagle, Area Contract Manager at leisure operator Everyone Active, which manages Eversley Leisure Centre in partnership with Basildon Borough Council