Huge Derby leisure project reaches major milestone
Published: 7 January 2021
Work commenced on the Derby City Council scheme in February 2020.
Work on Derby’s Moorways Sports Village has reached an important milestone.
The steelwork and main structure of the building have been completed - allowing contractors to move on to cladding and internal fit-out, as the development moves towards opening in spring of 2022.
Progress on the site in Moor Lane, Allenton, has been maintained despite early challenges with storm water flooding and the need to ensure a Covid-safe environment for its workforce.
The team has excavated the tank for the 50-metre swimming pool and created the basement plant room area. The structural frame of the water park pool hall, soft play, gym and cafe elements of the build are also now complete.
Work commenced on the Derby City Council scheme in February last year and, when completed, it will significantly enhance the city’s health and leisure offer.
Alongside the 50-metre pool, which can be split into three 25 metre pools, to give greater flexibility, there will be a learner pool and a water park, featuring two four-storey flumes, along with England’s first wave-generating wow ball and wave rider slide. There will also be an indoor water playground area with mini slides and water jets.
The spacious, modern gym will be fitted out with the latest equipment and there will be three health and fitness studios, as well as sauna and steam rooms. A cafe will offer a range of refreshments and there will be a soft play area for young children.
Councillor Robin Wood, city council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said it was exciting to see the scheme really beginning to take shape
This is a fantastic initiative, which will be of huge enjoyment and benefit to the people of Derby. It’s great to see such good progress being made on site, residents and visitors alike will be excited to use this new facility.
Jonathan Gisbourne, project manager for Bowmer + Kirkland, the construction contractor, said the team was delighted that the main structure of the building was now complete.
We have been working hard in the ground and underground but the steels are now in and we have floors and roofs and something you would recognise as a building. Things will now change from quite a heavy, civil engineering project to internal fit out of the building.
As well as a major boost for leisure, the development is also good news for the local economy. Alongside Heage-based Bowmer + Kirkland, other local companies involved in the project have included Derby’s M J Robinson Structures, who provided the building’s steel frame.