The Hyrdo revamp increases by a further £1m
Harrogate Borough Council had original said it would cost £11.8m
Last updated 20th Dec 2022
Harrogate Borough Council is set to invest a further £1million into the transformation of The Hydro.
That's on top of the £11.8m it had originally said it would cost to revamp the leisure centre.
Work is already well underway to provide a new 400sqm fitness suite, a new sauna and steam suite, improved reception and café, as well as an overhaul of the existing facilities, at the Hydro in Harrogate.
Outside, the building is being remodelled to provide a new car park, bicycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.
The existing gas boilers have been replaced with air-source heat pumps and 250 solar panels, along with new metering and energy monitoring and control systems.
The diving structure is also being replaced so that it can continue to create and nurture future Olympians.
Harrogate Borough Council said 'as is often the case when refurbishing an existing building, some additional areas of work have been discovered that only came to light when the building was closed and a strip-out of the internal fabric had taken place'.
In a statement, it goes on to say: 'The additional work includes some improvements to the fire protection of the steel frame, replacement of corroded steelwork, replacement of soffit boarding, renewal of the existing moveable floor in the diving pool and resolution of heat loss between the roof and the external walls.'
To help fund this additional work, and to ensure the building conforms to the latest legislation and is as energy-efficient as possible, the council have allocated a further £915,264.55.
The further investment costs are as followed:
- Replacement of the defective external soffit boarding – £306,893.41
- Renewal of the existing moveable floor in the diving pool – £299,918.75
- Replacement of corroded steel frame elements – £330,258.66
Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said: "At a time when some local authorities across the country are reviewing their investments in leisure facilities, we remain committed to ensuring people across the Harrogate district can keep fit and active for many years to come.
"By carrying out this additional work now, while the facility is closed, we can ensure the building is fit for purpose and can conform to the latest legislation and building regulations.
"And at a time of increasing energy costs, we are helping to offset this by making the leisure centre as energy-efficient as possible. And thanks to a government grant of some £1.8million, it will be able to utilise renewal energy."
The council now anticipate the facility opening next summer.