Construction of Hartlepool’s new flagship Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub has reached an exciting new milestone with the multi-million pound development entering the final fit-out stage.
Located at The Waterfront within Hartlepool marina, the state-of-the-art facility will replace Mill House Leisure Centre, which opened its doors in 1972 and has now reached the end of its operational life.
Highlight, built by principal contractor Wates, will be run by Hartlepool Borough Council’s Active Hartlepool service and is set to become one of the most impressive community active wellbeing destinations in the region, with a range of accessible, affordable and high-quality facilities and equipment.
To mark the latest milestone, a time capsule was buried within Highlight’s grounds at a special ceremony.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, and David Wingfield, Managing Director, Wates, Construction East, with the time capsule.
Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub is going to have a truly transformative effect on our town. It will open up incredible opportunities for people of all ages to lead healthier, happier lives. It represents a major investment in our future, and it will have a profound impact on the wellbeing, confidence, and pride of our community for many years to come.
“This is a truly exciting milestone. It demonstrates our ambition, our energy and our determination to build a stronger, more active and healthier Hartlepool — a place where everyone can thrive.
“Hartlepool is a fantastic place to live, work and visit. The development of Highlight in its iconic setting on The Waterfront and our wider regeneration programme demonstrates how we are on the up and really going places as a borough.”
Highlight forms part of a £160 million capital regeneration programme currently being delivered by Hartlepool Borough Council, signalling a period of rapid growth and renewal across the borough.
The time capsule buried within Highlight’s grounds to mark the handover contains a range of items, including:
- Photos celebrating decades of the Active Hartlepool service
- A Tall Ships 2023 t-shirt
- Memories shared by Peter and Elizabeth Richardson, who met at Mill House Leisure Centre and have now been together for 54 years.
- Images documenting Mill House over time
- Sports-themed crafts created by local children
- A scroll featuring every company involved in the Highlight project
- Materials provided by the family of the late Betty Sands, beloved former president of Hartlepool Swimming Club and swimming teacher to generations of local residents.
Following final fit-out, a period of thorough testing and commissioning will take place ahead of Highlight opening to the public in the summer.
Highlight is being funded by Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Sport England and construction began in early 2024.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “People right across our region deserve to have access to the very best, state-of-the-art sports facilities and Highlight stands as a shining example of how our investment is making that ambition a reality in Hartlepool.
“This is about more than just bricks and mortar, and is part of our broader work to regenerate sites across the town. By working in partnership to deliver projects like this and target funding where it can have the greatest impact, we’re making a real difference for local residents.
“Highlight shows what can be achieved when we focus on what communities need, and will deliver a modern facility local people can be proud of."
The facility boasts an extensive range of modern health, fitness, and leisure amenities, including:
- Three swimming pools:
- 25m eight-lane main pool
- 25m four-lane learner pool with moveable floor
- Leisure pool with race slide and interactive water play features
- 100-station gym
- Two inter-connected fitness studios
- Dedicated indoor cycling/spinning studio
- Active and soft play areas
- Party, function and meeting rooms
- Café with panoramic seating overlooking the marina
- NHS consultation suites through a partnership with University Hospitals Tees
- External ground and first-floor terraces
- Watersports-friendly links to the marina and external changing facilities
- Parking with electric vehicle charging points
Designed by GT3 Architects, who worked closely with the Council’s in-house team, the building grows in height from west to east, offering sweeping views across The Waterfront and Hartlepool marina. Its striking linear silhouette draws inspiration from the historic railway lines that once connected local timber and coal yards to the former dockland site during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
David Wingfield, Managing Director, Wates, Construction East, said: “Reaching this milestone brings us closer to opening a fantastic new active wellbeing hub for the people of Hartlepool. This project is far more than an impressive building, it’s a space designed for everyone to relax, socialise and be active together. As we enter the final stage, I can see that this facility truly reflects our purpose at Wates which is to reimagine places for people to thrive. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone whose hard work and dedication have brought this vision to life.”
Throughout construction, more than £14 million has been spent with local suppliers, reinforcing the project’s impact on the local economy.