The client wished to re-energise the centre as a major sporting venue and initially, we were appointed to undertake a Feasibility Study, which was then developed into a design.
Our concept of a sports village, which could also boost tourism, was inspired by the island and would include a health and fitness gym; 12-court sports hall; squash courts; climbing wall; gymnastics hall; table-tennis facilities; indoor bowls; sports science laboratories; foyer and reception; conference facilities; changing accommodation; café/restaurant and bar; administration; heritage and nature trails; a visitors’ centre and a hotel.
To encourage the use of this centre, our Feasibility Study identified access as being a major issue. Although situated in the commercial centre of the town, the only routes up to the centre are tortuous and unattractive. The proposals developed a scheme based around two panoramic lifts taking people quickly from the centre of town to the top of the rock and then straight into the leisure centre or to a new visitors’ centre, but also allowing informal use of the outdoor park we had conceived.
