Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre
Services
Key stats
Project details
Originally built in 1990 and last refurbished more than 20 years ago, Knaresborough’s pool had reached the end of its lifespan. GT3 worked with North Yorkshire Council to replace the much-loved facility with a state-of-the-art new leisure and wellness centre, delivered alongside its sister project, Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The new Knaresborough Leisure & Wellness Centre includes a six-lane 25m pool, smaller activity pool with flume, 60-station fitness suite, group fitness studio, immersive cycling studio, changing village, café, sauna and steam room. The facility mix was designed to support the specific needs of the local community, with a focus on inclusivity, families with young children and people with mobility needs.
The building responds carefully to its historic market town setting, neighbouring conservation area and nearby listed residential properties. Natural colours, red brick, pitched roof forms, warm metal cladding and a colonnade inspired by Knaresborough’s viaduct help soften the scale of the leisure amenities and create a building rooted in its surroundings.
Designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent, the centre uses a fabric-first approach, air source heat pumps, roof-mounted solar panels, LED lighting, smart controls and energy monitoring to reduce environmental impact. Since opening, the centre has exceeded expectations, performing 31% above membership targets and supporting significant growth in activity bookings, GP referrals and Learn to Swim participation.
Key Deliverables
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Commercial Value
Knaresborough Leisure & Wellness Centre delivers strong commercial value through a high-performing, modern facility that was delivered on budget and to programme as part of a twinned programme with Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre. Since opening, the centre has exceeded membership targets by 31%, supported an average of 6,000 monthly activity bookings and introduced 78 new group exercise classes, including immersive cycling. By combining wet and dry facilities with a broader wellness offer, the project strengthens income resilience while creating a more efficient, future-ready public leisure asset.
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Social Impact
Designed around inclusivity and community need, Knaresborough Leisure & Wellness Centre supports health, wellbeing and participation across a broad range of users. The new facility includes family-friendly wet leisure, a pool pod, accessible changing, fitness and wellness spaces, and a café, helping remove barriers for families, people with mobility needs and those who may not traditionally use leisure centres. Since opening, the centre has supported a 60% increase in Learn to Swim participation and a 144% increase in GP referrals, demonstrating its role in improving access to activity, rehabilitation and everyday wellbeing.
What our clients say
What matters most to us is the breadth of people now using the centre… older residents returning to exercise, families engaging in activities together, and individuals who previously felt unsure or anxious about visiting a leisure facility.
