White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre £1.7m gym extension

Visitors to the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon are set to benefit from a major programme of investment, which will see the current gym substantially extended, new state-of-the-art fitness equipment installed and a new crèche area created.

The new gym space, which will be extended by 290sqm, will boast £136,000 worth of new kit. This will include the latest Technogym ‘Excite’ equipment comprising treadmills, recline bikes, crossovers and synchro machines - offering a full cardiovascular workout. The additional space and new equipment will mean that up to 50 more customers will be able to use the gym at any time.

In addition, all fitness equipment currently located in the existing gym will be replaced and upgraded thanks to a further £246,000 investment.

A new outdoor crèche area is also planned, devised to give young children more space in which to play, while their carers are using the leisure centre’s other facilities.

The gym changing rooms will be refurbished with the introduction of new showers, toilets, wash basins, lockers, paintwork and lighting. The main entrance to the building will also be improved thanks to the installation of an impressive new canopy, while public art will also be installed throughout centre.

The roof of the extended gym area will be an environmentally friendly ‘Green Roof’ featuring plants and vegetation to absorb any rain water that falls on the new building.

The £1.7million improvements are being funded by Vale of the White Horse District Council and GLL, which operates the council’s Better leisure centres.

The work is due to start on Sunday 15 May and is expected to be completed just in time for Christmas.