Work is moving forward on a new £15m lifestyle facility in Crewe, with spring 2016 slated as the opening date.

The 7,800sq m (83,959sq ft) two-storey building is expected to become a central hub for the community of Crewe, bringing together seven different services under one roof. As well as sport and fitness facilities, the Lifestyle Centre will be home to Crewe’s new town library, Family Services centre, a cafe and office space. There will also be day-care facilities for adults with learning disabilities, including autism, sensory impairment, complex needs and a dementia garden.

Set to be operated by Everybody Sport and Recreation, the Lifestyle Centre will contain a 25m (82ft), eight-lane competition swimming pool, plus a 17m (56ft) learner pool. Each pool will have access to its own advanced hydraulic wheelchair lift to aid disabled and mobility-impaired users so that the pools are accessible to swimmers of all abilities.

The new gym will have up to 100 work stations, with a supplier expected to be confirmed in the next couple of weeks. There will also be five versatile studio spaces and a four court, multi-use sports hall.

Architects Pozzoni were appointed by Cheshire East Council and Kier Construction to put together the design plans for the centre, after detailed consultation with the existing user groups and local planning authority.

“Work is progressing well at the Crewe Lifestyle Centre and the supporting frame for the swimming pool is now being installed on site,” said Pozzoni director Brian Hanlon.

“The centre will be highly focussed on providing facilities for all members of the public. A unique feature of the build is that it has been designed to be one of the first centres to cater for people living with dementia and it allow them to access all facilities within the building independently.”

Designing for dementia has become a growing feature of modern leisure facilities, with a similar community hub currently being developed in nearby Warrington. It’s also a subject that was picked up on by Health Club Management editor Kate Cracknell in the September 2015 edition of the magazine. To read Cracknell’s editorial on the importance of dementia-friendly design, click here.