Haverhill Leisure Centre also saw a 16 per cent rise in revenue in the first quarter of this year after the development completed in January.

The seven-month project reallocated space across two floors of the 3,097sq ft building.

• Three courts in the sports hall were remodelled to create an XHeight Adventure Climbing facility and soft play zone.
  
  
• The gym has been relocated and extended, and new studio space has been created which can be sub-divided by a central, sliding wall.
  
  
• Two under-used squash courts have become a group cycle studio and modern ‘hot desk’ office space for staff.

The centre also incorporates a Self-Centre Health and Wellbeing facility with three studios and five therapy rooms, which is home to Allied Health Professionals (Suffolk), the NHS commissioned provider of MSK physiotherapy services.

“Tired facilities with a disconnect to the community are a huge drain on already limited resource but we have proved, even with limited capital investment, it is possible to create a sustainable environment which reengages the community and delivers economic, health and social benefits,” says Warren Smyth, CEO Abbeycroft Leisure.

The development was managed by Alliance Leisure for Abbeycroft Leisure and West Suffolk Council.