Stevenage Sports & Leisure Centre

Access to the Swimming Centre will remain unchanged and is through the main doors.

To ensure the safety of all Stevenage Swimming Centre users during the construction of the new facility, there will be no parking onsite for the duration of construction works. The car park between the Swimming Centre and Bowes Lyon Centre is the location of the new facility where construction will be taking place, whilst the other car park will be used as a compound during construction.

The car park will be closed from the end of the day on Sunday 12 April. It will remain closed for the duration of the works and parking will resume when the facility opens in Spring 2028.

The closure of the car park allows the existing Swimming Centre to remain open whilst the new facility is built. The other option was to close the existing Swimming Centre for two years which was not acceptable given its popularity and high levels of usage for both lessons and fun swimming.

It is recommended to park at St George’s Way Multi-Storey Car Park (SG1 1EP) or The Forum Car Park (SG1 1ES) during this closure.

Parking will be re-provided free to users of the Swimming Centre for up to two hours. Users will need enter their vehicle registration number at the reception desk, which will allow up to two hours free parking similar to the current system that is in use.

Parking for blue badge holders is available within both St George’s Way Multi-Storey Car Park and The Forum Car Park. Additionally, an agreement has been reached with the neighbouring Bowes Lyon to allow their parking facility to be used for drop-off and pick-up for those with the highest accessibility needs.

A pedestrian crossing is due to be installed across St Georges Way to provide a safe and easy crossing from The Forum Car Park to the existing and new facility. This is a complex process which requires the support of various partners, including the County Council. Securing the remaining permissions is in the final stages and work is due to commence in early May. It will take approximately eight weeks to complete.

Engagement with the local community and users of the Swimming Centre started in November 2023 when proposals for the new Sports & Leisure Centre were first made public. Engagement, including with the clubs using the pool, was ongoing throughout the planning process and has continued until this point, and will continue throughout the construction period.

The team has spoken to swimming clubs who use the Swimming Centre about the appropriate options and mitigation measures.

Additionally, the team has engaged with representatives from invis-Ability to evaluate the proposed alternative routes for those with accessibility needs.

St George’s Way Multi-Storey Car Park has recently undergone some upgrades and is well lit with CCTV coverage on each floor, including in the stairwells. The Forum car park, located opposite the Swimming Centre, is a surface level car park and can be accessed by a well-lit pedestrian path and underpasses leading to Stevenage Swimming Centre. A new pedestrian crossing across the carriageway is also due to be opened in early summer.

Walking routes from the alternative car parks will have directional signage stencilled on to the floor to the Swimming Centre.

A temporary drop-off and pick-up area for coaches has been arranged on Cuttys Lane, developed in conjunction with Everyone Active. Everyone Active will liaise directly with the clubs and schools that use Stevenage Swimming Centre to ensure that they are aware of the new arrangements and the most appropriate walking route to the facility.

This is a temporary arrangement that will be in place for the construction period. A new coach drop off and pick up area is included as part of the new facility.

Yes, Everyone Active and the council are liaising with clubs that use the Swimming Centre.

The closest bus stops are along Fairlands Way (near Silam Road) and by Aldi. There is an additional bus stop on Cuttys Lane.

Existing cycle hoops are located by the Forum Car Park.

The works that took place to the exterior of Stevenage Swimming Centre involved the construction of a new electrical substation and associated preparation.

You can find out more about the project on the Stevenage Borough Council and Stevenage Even Better websites.

As part of the wider programme of regeneration being led by Stevenage Borough Council, the council is working hard to ensure that the town has the space to support small business development, skills and jobs. This includes the opportunity for residents to gain experience in the construction industry. Stevenage Works is a well-established job and training hub managed by Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with a wide range of businesses. Stevenage Works raises awareness of local jobs available in local businesses for local people, providing a free recruitment service along with training courses and apprenticeships, to local people and residents of all ages and experience levels. Morgan Sindall will be working closely with Stevenage Works to ensure that jobs and apprenticeships during the construction period are made available to local people. More information on Stevenage Works is available on the council’s website: https://www.stevenage.gov.uk/town-and-community/stevenage-works.

Morgan Sindall has a clear Social Value Strategy that supports economic, social, environmental and Wellbeing out puts and measures.

Our Instinctively Inclusive strategy is embedded under our Developing people arm which allows us to create a culture that encourages diversity and embraces our differences and is not just focused on our own staff but also available to support our supply chain and customers, as we will work closely with them to support social mobility within the areas we work, live and learn, by raising awareness of career opportunities across our early careers programme.

Morgan Sindall believes in raising awareness of the great opportunities in the sector by our flexible, adaptability and open-door policy as this also allows us to support delivery of Gatsby benchmarks and the new Provider Access Legislation requirements especially when working in Education.

Raising industry standards along with addressing skills gaps by creating a stepping stone into sustainable employment opportunities for all. We also value the opportunity to work with or support local charities as we encourage our staff to give back to the local community and provide volunteering days for them to be able to do this.

The council works closely with local schools to teach children about the wider regeneration programme and the opportunities it offers to them. If you are a school and wish to get involved, please do email via regeneration@stevenage.gov.uk. You can find out more information through the Stevenage Even Better website: https://stevenage-even-better.com/skills-and-opportunities/.