Alderley Park Sports Complex opens to public

A striking new gym and sports complex in Cheshire has recently been unveiled and is welcoming its first wave of energetic visitors.

Designed by Pozzoni Architecture on behalf of property developers Bruntwood SciTech, the £4m Alderley Park Sports Complex boasts a range of modern indoor and outdoor facilities, within the landscaped grounds of Alderley Park near Alderley Edge.

Operated by a local charitable trust, Everybody Sport & Recreation, the 2000sq.m leisure complex opened its doors to the public at the end of 2019. The modern building features a 4-court sports hall, a large fitness suite, a large group exercise studio along with a dedicated Group Cycle studio.

The Group Cycling Studio has been designed with no external glazing, enabling it to host immersive events such as the engaging Les Mills ‘The Trip’ experience.

Outside, three floodlit tennis courts and a 5-a-side 3G football pitch are served by their own changing facilities, complete with dedicated changing rooms for match officials.

To reflect its natural and landscaped surroundings, Pozzoni’s designs for Alderley Park Leisure Centre include complementary and reconstituted materials wherever possible. The eye-catching vertical fins - made from recycled plastics and wood - mimic the surrounding woodland, while a Gabion wall employs stone from across the site.

Martin Bransby, Director at Pozzoni Architecture said: “Alderley Park’s Sports Complex really breaks the mould of the traditional leisure centre. We were given a unique, off-piste brief and a stunning site to work with. From the outset, we tried to bring the feeling of being outdoors into our designs for the building.

“We’ve used traditional and sustainable materials in some innovative ways, to give a fairly simplistic building a dramatic appearance and genuine curb appeal. We’re extremely satisfied with the end results and hope the public get fantastic use out of the centre.”

Work started on site at Alderley Park in December 2018 and was completed in October 2019. Construction work was carried out by GMI Construction Group PLC.