South Norfolk Council has kicked off the new year with the reopening of Diss Swim Centre. The centre has undergone an extensive refurbishment and improvement programme, which safeguards this important community facility for the future.

Delivered by Alliance Leisure, through the UK Leisure Framework (owned by Denbighshire Leisure), the project brought together a team of specialist suppliers, locally sourced where possible, combining quality craftsmanship with a focus on supporting the local economy.

Alliance Leisure assembled a team of leisure specific partners, these included Saunders Boston Architects, who were responsible for design and Real Consulting, who provided PM and QS services.  DDi Projects were appointed as Principal Contractor, supported by KGO Electrical and Woodwards Mechanical. Hydrospec were the Council’s preferred supplier for the swimming pool works, which included tank reprofiling and a plant room upgrade. Acting as development partner, Alliance Leisure provided a single point of contact for the Council, overseeing the project from start to finish.

“Diss Swim Centre has been a cornerstone of the local community for over 50 years, originally as an outdoor lido,” explains Steven Peet, Leisure Strategic Development Manager at South Norfolk Council. “This significant investment has modernised the facility to meet the needs of today’s users, securing its future for many years to come.”

“Diss Swim Centre is used by 22 different schools and has footfall of over 150,000 a year. We are delighted to help provide crucial public water space to help people learn to swim, which is a vital life skill. With the adaptions to the pool and extended changing facilities, we have vastly improved the overall experience for all our visitors, improved safety and increased capacity for swimming sessions and classes, helping our residents to live healthy and active lives. This was a clear objective for us, alongside the decarbonisation of the site and the use of greener energy.”

In the pool area, upgrades included reprofiling the main pool tank to enhance programming, making it ideal for lessons and classes—re-rendering and tiling, and modernising the pool plant to enhance water quality, meet PWTAG guidance and improve accessibility. The changing areas were expanded into a larger, more accessible "changing village" with a new viewing area integrated to improve visibility for parents. Updates to the entrance lobby and reception area also deliver a more welcoming environment.

South Norfolk Council secured £1.2 million from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which supports public bodies to reduce carbon emissions. These works were delivered directly by the council and included upgrades to the building fabric via cladding and insulation, the removal of the old gas boilers and the installation of three air source heat pumps, with solar panels added to the roof. 

Steven Peet continues: “It’s fantastic to see the community enjoying the upgraded facilities. This project came with unique challenges, due to the site’s long history which has seen multiple adaptations over the years. A lack of technical building information and unforeseen issues, such as the need to replace defective block and beam flooring in the changing area, added complexity and pressures on budget and timelines.”

“However, Alliance Leisure and the project team managed to overcome every challenge they were presented with, delivering cost-effective and timely solutions. Their experience was instrumental in supporting completion of the works for our committed reopening date —something we could not have achieved with a less seasoned team.”