LIFESYLE FITNESS – LIGHTWATER

Where smart design meets high-impact training environments

At Lifestyle Fitness Lightwater, we recently completed a comprehensive, thoughtful refurbishment of a community-oriented leisure centre — creating a modern, well-zoned, multi-purpose fitness and social hub that serves members of all ages and needs. The project revitalised the existing gym floor, upgraded changing facilities, added premium amenities such as a sauna, and introduced brand-new studios and a dedicated cycle studio. The aim was to transform the facility into what the operators call “one of the top sports and fitness facilities in the UK.”

Our design approach focused on versatility and inclusivity. The refurbished gym now accommodates free weights, functional training zones, cardio equipment, and dedicated class-studio space — ensuring that whether members are doing strength work, cardio, functional fitness or attending group classes, they have a space tailored to their activity. By doing so, we created a balance between heavy-use zones and lighter, more flexible spaces, allowing the facility to host a wide variety of users — from serious gym-goers to community members interested in classes or social sport.

A key enhancement was the introduction of wellness and social areas. As part of the refurbishment, a modern sauna and updated changing rooms were installed, significantly raising the comfort and appeal of the centre. On top of that, a café run by a local operator was added — providing a space for members and community users to relax, socialise or recover after workouts or sports. These amenities help reposition the centre not just as a gym, but as a community leisure destination, broadening its appeal beyond just fitness to wellness and social interaction.

We also integrated a variety of sports and activity options beyond just gym-based workouts, which adds to the versatility of the facility. Alongside the gym and studios, there are indoor and outdoor sports courts, multi-sport courts, and spaces for casual or organised sport — making the centre suitable for families, club-level sport, and individual fitness alike. This multi-faceted offering ensures the centre can serve a wide demographic, from children to seniors, and professionals to casual exercisers — which is often a key requirement in community-linked leisure projects.

An important aspect of the build planning was phasing works to ensure minimal disruption. According to the operator, the refurbishment was carried out in phases over the course of about 12 months, carefully scheduled so that the centre remained operational and community access wasn’t interrupted. lifestylefitness.co.uk This reflects a project-management approach that is respectful to existing users — a factor that greatly helps when working on live leisure facilities where closure can be highly disruptive.

Overall, Lifestyle Fitness Lightwater stands as a strong example of how a community leisure centre can be transformed through considered design & build: combining gym infrastructure, wellness amenities, social spaces and multi-sport facilities to create a versatile, inclusive, and high-value offering. For a design & build team like ours, it demonstrates how careful zoning, diversified offering, and phased refurbishment can turn a regular leisure space into a facility that meets modern expectations — both in terms of fitness, wellness, and community use.