Eric Wright completes £13.5m leisure centre

Eric Wright Construction, a division of the Eric Wright Group, has completed a 62-week, £13.5m project to build a state of the art new sports and swimming complex in Blackburn town centre.

Commissioned by Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackburn College, the new build development comprises of two sports halls, an 80-station fitness gym, aerobics and separate spinning studios, a 25 metre swimming pool, training pool and water fun zone, new flumes and a sports science performance and testing laboratory.

The facility also incorporates a training pool with moveable floor making it suitable for children, aqua aerobics, hydrotherapy and other uses.

In recognition of the project, Eric Wright Construction received a Bronze award from the Considerate Constructors Scheme at last night’s 2015 National Site Awards in Edinburgh.

The complex replaces the former Waves Water Fun Centre, a 26-year-old recreational venue. Set to be demolished, the resulting site will be sold for development by the council as part of the ongoing town centre regeneration scheme.

DLA Architects and Desco Engineering Consultancy were also involved in the delivery of the complex, which incorporates a modern, efficient design, to halve the running costs of the former recreation centre.

The facility recently opened to the public, with an official opening by Olympic freestyle swimmer Rebecca Adlington. John Wilson, managing director at Eric Wright Construction, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in this project which greatly enhances Blackburn’s leisure facilities for the good of the community. The project ran smoothly and makes a significant and positive contribution to the modernisation of the town centre.”