Alliance Leisure delivers Clay Cross Active despite major construction setback
Alliance Leisure has successfully delivered a £26.3 million leisure and wellbeing hub for North East Derbyshire, overcoming significant challenges caused by the collapse of contractor ISG.
The project was temporarily paused when ISG, the original main contractor, went into administration in September 2024. Alliance Leisure worked swiftly to secure Universal Civils & Build to take over and complete construction works. The site was quickly made safe and construction restarted with minimal delay.
“Delivering a brand new community hub was always going to have its challenges, but when the main contractor suddenly went into administration halfway through the build, it could have meant the end of this scheme.”
“It’s thanks to the dedication of our team, the strong collaboration between our partners and the flexibility of the UK Leisure Framework, managed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL), that we were able to act quickly, onboard a new contractor and deliver this transformational project for North East Derbyshire.”
Clay Cross Active replaces the outdated Sharley Park Leisure Centre. Designed by GT3 Architects, the low-carbon facility features sustainable technologies such as solar PV panels and air source heat pumps. Clay Cross Active combines health, fitness and wellbeing facilities with essential community services for the more than 20,000 local residents.
Facilities include a 100-station gym, immersive group cycling studio, four court sports hall in addition to a 25m swimming pool with six lanes, plus a learner pool with spectator seating. Designed with accessibility in mind, the changing village is supported by a Changing Places facility.
A wellness suite featuring a 10-station Innerva power-assisted equipment circuit caters for people of all fitness levels, particularly older adults, those who are less mobile, suffering from illness or who are undergoing rehabilitation.
Other facilities include soft play, a TAGactive indoor adventure play area, a treatment room, a multi-purpose room for community activities and a café with a viewing gallery for the swimming pool.
“It’s also worth noting that we have been able to retain the original sports hall frame that we originally thought would need replacing. This has resulted in a 40 per cent saving on embodied carbon, good for the budget and great for the planet.”
As an integrated hub, NHS maternity clinics and services such as Citizens Advice are also operating from the centre.
Outside, the large park has been enhanced with new social areas, improved play equipment and a full size 3G floodlit pitch.
North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Cllr Kathy Rouse, says: “The development is a key part of an on going £32m investment in leisure facilities across the district and also the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan, which will drive regeneration and community wellbeing across the area. Through co-locating leisure and community wellness services we aim to make it as easy as possible for people to access and benefit a wider range of facilities and services than they may otherwise engage with. The facilities look absolutely amazing and have been designed and built with sustainability and longevity in mind. This new addition to the community in Clay Cross will benefit many generations of residents.”
Clay Cross Active was one of several major leisure developments being delivered by Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework that were affected by the sudden collapse of ISG. Despite the scale of disruption, Alliance Leisure successfully appointed new contractors and ensured every affected project was back on track within just 100 days.
The launch of Clay Cross Leisure Centre was marked by an official opening on 27th June, attended by representatives from North East Derbyshire District Council, Alliance Leisure, the wider development team, plus main other community partners.
For more information about Alliance Leisure visit allianceleisure.co.uk