Work has been completed on the new Birchwood Community Hub

Following seven months of works, the re-developed Birchwood Community Hub has been officially opened.

As part of the £1.5million project, funded by Warrington Borough Council and delivered in partnership with LiveWire, the facility has undergone extensive renovations and improvements, including:

New-look reception area and changing rooms – the reception area and changing rooms have had a complete makeover, creating a warm and inviting entrance and brand-new changing, shower and toilets facilities for customers, and improved staff spaces.

Fitness suite revamp – featuring an improved design and state-of-art Technogym cardio equipment, expanded free-weights area, and more space for functional training.

Newly refurbished indoor tennis courts – with the installation of a new floor, curtains and court dividers, the courts are now open and ready to welcome tennis players of all ages and abilities.

Modern library – the unused bar area has been transformed into a modern library, with a wide selection of over 10,000 books, a dedicated children’s area with 4,500 books, five public network PCs and free WiFi – it’s the perfect place to work, read, study and connect.

Extended fitness studio – located on the first floor, group exercise classes are now taking place in the newly refurbished and extended fitness studio, which features improved lighting and sound systems.

Brand-new spin studio – created on the ground floor, a dedicated spin studio equipped with the latest Matrix kit will elevate group cycling classes to the next level, and there’s also a new digital screen for additional on-demand sessions.

All works were undertaken in phases to ensure that the centre remained open and to minimise disruption to customers.

The new-look hub was officially re-opened today, Wednesday 8 November, by Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, and representatives from LiveWire, the council, contactors Schofield & Sons, and other key partners involved in the project.

Cllr Bowden said: “It was fantastic to be able to open the newly re-developed Birchwood Community Hub today. It’s great to see that it’s already bustling with activity and being enjoyed by people of all ages. The extensive improvements made to the hub now means people have access to state-of-the-art facilities that will help them to live active and healthy lifestyles, alongside a modern library space that meets the needs of the community, both now and in the future.

“The council has made a significant investment in leisure and library services across Warrington in recent years and I’m so pleased to see this continue in Birchwood. We were able to use the income generated from the sale of the former St Oliver Plunkett school site – which is now a successful housing development of over 60 new homes – to invest back into community facilities that will be of huge benefit to people who live in Birchwood and neighbouring areas.”

The new-look Birchwood Community Hub has been redeveloped in line with the borough’s established hub model that places leisure, library and other community services under one roof, to encourage people to participate in new activities to support mental and physical wellbeing.

Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and communities, said: “The redevelopment of the former leisure and tennis complex into the state-of-the-art community hub we have today is a fantastic achievement, which will significantly benefit people living in the local community. We’re following our proven model of providing a wide range of services under one roof, which has already proven to be hugely successful in Orford, Woolston, Great Sankey, and Bewsey and Dallam.

“The relocation of the library from its previous nearby location forms part of our ongoing libraries modernisation plan, as we look to future proof our library facilities so that they can be enjoyed by communities now and into the future. Improvements have already been made across Warrington’s libraries, including refurbishments at Stockton Heath, Padgate, Penketh, and most recently, Culcheth Library. The new and improved Birchwood Community Hub is building on the excellent work done so far to support people in Warrington to lead healthy and happy lives.”

Cheryl Siddall, chief operating officer at LiveWire, said: “We are pleased to have partnered with Warrington Borough Council on this exciting project. The re-development of Birchwood Community Hub reflects our commitment to providing state-of-the-art facilities for the community. My thanks to the team who have worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition.

“We believe this newly transformed hub will play a vital role in promoting active and healthy lifestyles while creating a vibrant community spirit.”

For more information about Birchwood Community Hub, visit LiveWire’s website.