Leisure centre opening pushed back for final tweaks
Hartlepool Borough CouncilThe opening date of a £35m leisure centre with three swimming pools has been pushed back to allow for "finishing touches".
Hartlepool Borough Council had previously aimed to open the new Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub on Hartlepool marina on Wednesday 10 June, but has postponed the scheduled opening by a little under two weeks.
The local authority has confirmed the leisure centre will now open on 22 June, in order to allow time for a "small number of final works".
A council spokesperson said the opening of "this fantastic new facility" will mark an "exciting new chapter for Hartlepool".
"Since receiving the keys to the building from the main construction contractor, a small number of final works have taken slightly longer than anticipated," a council spokesperson explained.
"As eager as we are to open the doors and welcome our community into this fantastic new facility, we want to make sure everything is fully operational, thoroughly tested and running smoothly from day one."
Work on the development, estimated to have cost up to £34million, formally commenced in November 2023 – with Wates Group as the lead contractor.
It is the first project to be completed as part of the council's ambitious £160m capital regeneration programme to reshape key areas of Hartlepool, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The site will replace Mill House Leisure Centre, which first opened in 1972 and closed at the end of April, to enable staff to complete essential training and transfer to the new hub.
Facilities within the new leisure centre will include an eight-lane main pool, a four-lane learner pool with movable floor, and a leisure pool including race slide, water-play features and spectator seating.
It will also be home to a 100-station gym, two interconnected fitness studios, an indoor cycling and spinning studio, a cafe, party room, soft play areas and an NHS consultation suite.
