Important step forward for major Waterfront leisure development

Published Thursday, 2nd July 2020

The replacement of Hartlepool’s ageing Mill House Leisure Centre with a flagship multi-million pound development on the town’s Waterfront site has taken another important step forward.

Hartlepool Borough Council is now advertising for a lead consultant, backed by a multi-disciplinary team, to develop a full design programme for the new recreational attraction, which will draw in both local visitors and tourists.

The closing date for the first stage of the tendering process is Friday 31st July – for full details click here.

The development could include up to three swimming pools, a health suite, fitness studios, a gym, a family play facility, a café/refreshments area and function rooms – the exact make-up of the facilities is yet to be finalised.

It’s part of a planned huge investment in leisure facilities across the town, with Brierton Sports Centre, the Headland Sports Centre, Grayfields Recreation Ground and Pavilion and Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club also earmarked for improvement.

It will sit alongside other improvements to the wider Waterfront site, including the creation of a new events space which will enable the Council to build on the success of the annual Hartlepool Waterfront Festival.

The bulk of the funding for the improvements will come from the Council’s Capital Investment Programme, which includes significant sums of money provided by the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Councillor Shane Moore

Councillor Shane Moore at the Waterfront site

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of the Council, said: “Once we have appointed a lead consultant, work will be able to forge ahead on designing a major leisure facility fit for the 21st century for the people of Hartlepool.

“I am very proud and enormously excited at the thought of creating a state-of-the-art complex which – together with our other major investment in leisure facilities across the town – will bring so many benefits to local people, including health, social and economic.

“I would like to once again thank the Tees Valley Combined Authority, without whose support we might not be in this exciting position.

“I would also take this opportunity to again encourage people to take part in our ongoing online survey to shape the future provision of sport and physical activity in Hartlepool, as this will play an important part in determining the blend of facilities at the new Waterfront recreational development.”

The sport and physical activity survey is running until Tuesday 7th July and can be completed by clicking here