The new Moorways Sports Village has been handed over to Derby City Council by its construction partner Bowmer + Kirkland, on time and on budget.
With its exciting Water Park including flumes and water slides, and 50m swimming pool designed to accommodate regional competitions, preparations are under way to get everything up and running ready for its opening in Spring.
Bowmer + Kirkland’s Associate Director Gus Kedzior officially handed over the key to the £42 million complex to Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture, Wellbeing and Tourism, Councillor Ross McCristal.
Also involved in the project were architect Faulkner Browns, project managers Mace and structural engineers Arup, building on the successful partnership which saw the Council’s award-winning Derby Arena also completed on time and on budget in 2014.
Councillor Ross McCristal said:
It’s testament to the hard work of everyone involved that we have reached this milestone. Everyone pulled out all the stops to make this happen, and it’s particularly impressive when you consider that construction work started just before the start of a major global pandemic.
I would like to thank colleagues who were involved in this excellent project from across the Council and also our key partners for making this outstanding achievement possible. Derby has a new state-of-the-art leisure facility to be proud of.
Bowmer + Kirkland Regional Director, Steve Chambers, said:
This project has been a major highlight for our team. It’s not every day you build an international standard Olympic-sized swimming pool and all the other amazing facilities on offer.
The entire project is a result of great teamwork by everyone involved and our existing relationships with many of the team helped to achieve an on budget and on time handover, despite many challenges thrown at us by Covid.
I am very proud of all our people who worked so hard to achieve a great result for Derby City Council and everyone who will enjoy this facility for years to come.
The 50m pool at Moorways Sports Village can be divided into three 25m length pools of varying depths, using moveable floors and booms. This offers flexibility for club and leisure use. There is also a separate teaching pool.
The Water Park is set to become a regional attraction with its gently sloping floor into the water, wave-creating Wow ball, two four-storey flumes, racer slide, wave rider, and fun water play area for children.
Other attractions include fitness studios and gym, sauna and steam room, and a café area with views over the Water Park and 50m pool. The café also has a soft play area, with a separate, larger soft playroom by the main reception.
The changing village has private cubicles alongside group changing rooms and a changing places toilet and changing area.
The Council is working closely with its leisure operating partner, Everyone Active, who will manage Moorways Sports Village when it opens, along with the Moorways Stadium facilities next door. An opening date will be announced very soon.
Watch the time lapse video of Moorways Stadium being built below: