INDUSTRY VIEWS
LEISURE DB
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CREATING FIT-FOR-PURPOSE, MODERN SWIMMING POOLS As the leading leisure developer in the UK, we’ve been developing leisure facilities for over two decades. It’s given us strong insight into the many factors an operator must consider when looking to create the perfect pool provision. We’ve seen plenty of changes over that time, too, so when I asked our team for their thoughts on modern swimming pool design, the responses were varied. There was, however, one underlying theme: rarely are two swimming facilities ever created the same. Each and every pool development is nuanced around the client’s specific brief and objectives. For example, one notable project – completed back in 2018 – was our ‘Ship in a bottle’ development at Monmouth Leisure Centre. In an impressive feat of construction engineering, a 25m swimming pool and spa was successfully built within an existing sports hall structure. Don’t rule anything out! Today, client briefs range from eight-lane 25m pools with large seated viewing galleries, to new leisure centres with six-lane, single-depth pools and limited poolside seating – and everything in between. More flexible programming has certainly led to an increased demand for movable floors, but this comes at a cost that has to be balanced against commercial returns, operational issues and energy efficiencies. Meanwhile, reducing viewing areas and glazing, or simply restricting the pool depth, all have a significant impact on accessibility and pool usage. Funding partners and local swimming clubs also play an influential role when scoping the vision for a new pool. From a sustainability perspective, we’ve advocated and installed numerous technologies – such as micro filtration and decarbonising measures – all of which can help operators move towards the goal of achieving a BREAAM Excellent rating. And sustainability has increasingly become a factor for operators. However, commerciality is still front and centre in decision-making, and consideration should be given to the size, location and features of the pool hall itself, with options including energy-efficient lighting, heat recovery systems and automated control systems. One of our clients, Brimhams Active, told me that from a commercial perspective, there are two key areas to consider: understanding your customers and understanding your cost to serve. We asked Natalie McGuire, Director of Business Development at Brimhams Active, for her top tips on maximising the commercial opportunity of pools – because as she points out, the pool might be your biggest cost in terms of its energy consumption, but the commercial opportunities are great. You can read that full interview at allianceleisure.co.uk/news
Sustainability has increasingly become a factor for operators, but commerciality is still front and centre in decision-making.
SARAH WATTS CEO, Alliance Leisure
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STATE OF THE UK SWIMMING INDUSTRY REPORT 2023
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