Work is about to start on an exciting £1.5m scheme to refurbish and revitalise Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre. 

The Northumberland County Council funded scheme includes the refurbishment and re-modelling of the centre to provide modern leisure, library and community spaces. 

As the internal layout of the centre is to be changed, it will be necessary to close the centre to the public while the work is being carried out.  

Alternative arrangements have been introduced for customers and sports clubs, starting on November 1. 

Once the work is complete, the centre will provide a new and improved sporting offer; The ground floor gym area will be refurbished and reconfigured to provide a dedicated cycling/spinning studio while the first floor will be converted into a fantastic new gym area with weights and state-of-the-art cardio equipment. 

In addition, the three squash courts and viewing gallery will be refurbished and the six-court sports hall upgraded.  

There will be new and improved changing facilities that will be available for sport and community use, including changing places that are designed to be fully accessible for those with additional needs. 
 

A new, modern and welcoming reception area, a library and the creation of a community café and hub area are also included in the scheme as well as some essential repairs to the fabric of the building. 
 

The centre also has two external full sized football pitches that are used by a number of local teams; Northumberland County Council has been working with Newbiggin AFC, local clubs and the Football Foundation to provide new and enhanced grass pitches to the rear of the centre. 

All Active Northumberland customers have been written to informing them of the alternative sites they can use, and sports clubs have been temporarily relocated. Members have been given the option to have their membership frozen if they wish. 
 

It is anticipated that the work will take nine months to complete with the centre scheduled to re-open in summer 2022. 
 

Northumberland County Councillor, Jeff Watson, cabinet member with responsibility for health lives said: 

“This upgrade work will breathe new life into the centre and provide a modern and much improved experience for the local community. 

“The start of the work on site marks another milestone and means we are one step closer to bringing these fantastic new facilities to the local community.” 
 

Mark Warnes, Chief Executive of Active Northumberland said: 

"We want to thank our members for their patience and understanding as we undertake this exciting project. We look forward to welcoming them to Ashington Leisure Centre through this period of transformation that will see a dramatic improvement in the quality of facilities at Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre for our Active Northumberland members and customers."