July 2025 saw the opening of the £26.3m Clay Cross Active in North East Derbyshire. In response to extensive community consultation, the development provides end-to-end health and wellness facilities for the local community.
The impressive and revolutionary scheme faced a potentially cataclysmic setback when principal contractor, ISG, went into administration part-way through the build, however, thanks to the hard work of North East Derbyshire Council and its dedicated leisure development partner – Alliance Leisure – the project swiftly got back on track.
The need for Clay Cross Active arose from a combination of health, social, economic and infrastructure challenges being experienced by residents of the former coal-mining town, which faces significant deprivation, poor health outcomes, high obesity rates and low physical activity levels.
The previous facility, Sharley Park Leisure Centre – which was built in the 1970s – was in poor structural condition, inaccessible for many residents and offering an outdated, poorly-connected mix of activities. It also required heavy council subsidies and didn’t meet modern community needs.
A powerful facility mix
The new Clay Cross Active integrates high quality sport facilities – including pools, a sports hall, 100-station gym, studios and a 3G pitch – with health services, such as NHS children’s and maternity care. The site also supports community wellbeing with Citizens’ Advice and community rooms, while Sharley Park provides informal recreation such as walking and cycling routes, cricket, bowls and disc golf facilities.
This prime example of co-location has been engineered to encourage behaviour change, tackle health inequalities, improve mental health and foster social interaction.
Clay Cross Active will also be the focus of outreach programmes such as Public Health Physical Activity provision and Live Life Better Derbyshire, which targets and supports inactive residents and those with long-term conditions.
“This transformation marks the beginning of a new era for leisure in North East Derbyshire,” says Matt Broughton, director of growth and assets at North East Derbyshire Council. “We’re seeing the positive outcomes firsthand, with Clay Cross Active achieving record attendances, record memberships, high customer satisfaction scores and a much improved financial performance.”
Exceeding expectations
When approaching the project, Alliance Leisure focused on delivering a facility that exceeded expectations. Thanks to its extensive experience, the team knows that customers don’t care how a leisure centre is built, they care about how it looks and feels and this is why the building’s finishes and fit-out were heavily prioritised.
The result is a leisure centre that feels modern, welcoming and ‘Instagrammable’. It’s a facility that customers want to visit, stay in and share, underpinning its long-term financial sustainability.
As a trusted partner, with public and private sector expertise, Alliance Leisure used its knowledge of innovative products and nationwide success to advise the council on incorporating several standout facilities within Clay Cross Active to distinguish the site.
These include an immersive cycle studio, an Innerva Wellness Suite and a TAGactive facility.
When ISG, the original main contractor, went into administration, it was thanks to Alliance Leisure’s established partnerships, extensive supply chain and the robust mechanisms of the UK Leisure Framework (owned and managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd), that a new contractor – Universal Civils and Build –was quickly appointed to minimise delays, with just a 1 per cent uplift in budget.
Successful outcome
Clay Cross Active showcases Alliance Leisure’s ability to act decisively in a crisis, deliver innovative solutions and create exceptional customer experiences. Together – thanks to the council’s openness, trust, and commitment to a successful outcome – the partners have delivered one of the highest-quality leisure facilities in the region and one which will effectively serve its local population for years to come.
More: www.allianceleisure.co.uk
