New leisure centre with swimming and ski slope facilities

Swimming is a huge part of the North Devon culture. This distinctive new sport and leisure centre delivers a commercially efficient, high-quality pool which serves thriving local surf and swimming clubs, water polo teams, and the wider Barnstaple community. It acts as a winter venue to teach open-water lifesaving skills.

Planning restrictions dictated a tight 4,500 sq.m. area to contain a large amount of accommodation. Our compact, efficient complex contains two generously sized pools with moveable floors – a 25m eight-lane main pool with spectator seating, and an 8.5 × 20m four-lane learner pool. There is also a covered Endless Ski Slope, a four-court sports hall, 120-station fitness suite, two exercise studios, and a café/outside terrace, external civic area, children’s adventure play area, and a full-size 3G synthetic pitch.

The external materials reflect the coastal location and manage the effects of long-term saltwater corrosion. It is a unique health and wellbeing destination for the wider community, increasing opportunities to participate in leisure, volunteering, and training activities.