Construction starts at last on new Halifax leisure centre
Work to build the long-awaited, and at times long-delayed, new Halifax leisure centre has now begun.
Preparation works have been ongoing over the last few months to get the site ready, which included site surveys and the partial demolition of the old North Bridge Leisure Centre, where the new state-of-the-art centre including a swimming pool is being built.
Contractor Tilbury Douglas has now officially begun work on the new build, with the delivery of a construction piling rig on site – a huge, specialised drill that will help create the foundations for the building.
The rig, weighing 81 tonnes, will drill over 300 pile foundations – holes that will be filled with concrete – up to 13 metres down into the ground, to create structural support for the building.
Shelagh O’Neill, Calderdale Council’s Director for Regeneration and Strategy, said the start of construction is a “significant step forward” for the project.
There have been delays with the project in the past – most notably when the project was paused for 12 months from autumn 2022 due to spiralling construction inflation costs, before it resumed.
Ms O’Neill says the project is now on track to deliver top-class sports, health and well-being facilities for all of Calderdale’s diverse communities in 2028.
“Teams have been busy finalising the detailed designs and doing lots of complex preparation work on site to reach this point, and creating the foundations is a vital first step in the actual construction,” she said.
William Kay, Regional Director for Yorkshire and the North East at Tilbury Douglas, said they looked forward to seeing the project take shape over the coming months.
“Working in partnership with Calderdale Council, we are committed to delivering a high-quality, modern facility that will support health, well-being and community use for years to come.”
The new Halifax Leisure Centre will include a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool with spectator seating, and a learner pool with a viewing and seating area, a 120-station fitness suite, three multi-function studios and a dedicated spinning studio, an eight-court sports hall, a Changing Places facility, well-being spaces, a soft play and adventure area for children, and a cafe and community area.