Wychavon District Council has been granted planning permission to push ahead with the £13 million pound regeneration of Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre. Works will be focused around increasing the facility’s swimming provision, with the addition of a learner pool to support the existing main pool, whilst also modernising throughout to improve engagement, user experience and energy efficiency.
Works will be delivered through the UK Leisure Framework, managed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL), with Alliance Leisure heading up a team of leisure development specialists that include; main contractor, Speller Metcalfe Ltd, architect and design specialist, Watson Batty and award-winning pool and construction company, Buckingham Pools. Works are expected to get underway in August and complete in the summer of 2026.
Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre has served the residents of Droitwich Spa for more than 25 years and it is the council’s ambition that the centre remains a valued and integral part of the community for many years to come. In its current form, the centre is limited in its capacity to support the swimming needs of the community. The single, 25 metre, main pool creates programming challenges and makes it difficult to accommodate the diverse needs of the community.
Incorporating a dedicated learner pool will unlock potential to run a full programme of swimming lessons without disrupting the busy programme in the main pool that includes lane swimming, aqua classes and sessions that cater for those with sensory issues and other groups that use pool time for rehabilitation, recovery and treatment. The dedicated learner pool will also drive the expansion of engagement with local schools and families to improve community swim school provision, ensuring even more young people can develop swimming as a valuable life skill.
The new 8x12m learner pool will be housed in a building that will extend the leisure centre’s footprint and will also accommodate a new reception area and café. A dry link to the existing wet changing rooms will create a seamless user journey from check-in to pools.
This will create a more environmentally sustainable facility that supports the council’s net zero by 2030 ambitions
Gillian Dunster, Business Development Manager, Alliance Leisure, says; “Whilst the new leaner pool is the main addition in terms of facilities, we will also be carrying out extensive legacy works to modernise infrastructure and aesthetics throughout. The installation of air source heat pumps, comprehensive upgrade works to heating and ventilation systems, plus the installation of solar panels mounted to the roof of the new extension, will all improve energy efficiency. This will create a more environmentally sustainable facility that supports the council’s net zero by 2030 ambitions.
“Wet and dry changes areas will be renovated whilst remodelling works will create three new flexible-use treatment rooms, served by a dedicated reception and waiting area, plus a new duty manager’s office.”
The project is being funded by Wychavon District Council which, separate to this contract, is also upgrading the centre’s car park taking the total investment to £15 million.
Cllr Dan Birch, Wychavon’s Executive Board Member for Wellbeing, social mobility and transformation, says, “This will deliver a much-improved experience for users of Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre and ensure Wychavon boasts some of the best leisure facilities in the district and the country.”