Why We Need to Redevelop Worthing Leisure Centre
Worthing Leisure Centre has been at the heart of our community for more than 50 years. During that time, it has continually adapted to changing sport, fitness, and leisure trends, repurposing spaces, modernising facilities, and responding to what residents need. Its history is a testament not only to the building’s flexibility, but also to our organisation’s long standing commitment to serving the community.
Importantly, we do not have plans to increase membership fees beyond inflation to pay for this refurbishment. Your continued commitment to South Downs Leisure over the last three years has been crucial in helping us reach the point where this level of investment is possible.
Across the decades, the centre has transformed many times:
- New squash courts were built in the 80’s, later becoming a soft play area as family activities grew.
- A function room was built in the 90’s and later evolved into a multipurpose community space.
- A gravel football pitch became a state of the art hockey facility in 2002, and then a 3G pitch in 2014 as demand shifted.
- Several squash courts were repurposed into studios between 2008-2023.
- Store cupboards became sunbed rooms, and a former rowing tank was reinvented as a small gym and spa in the early 1990s.
- In it’s time, that 1990s gym was considered cuttingedge, with 15–20 pieces of equipment, a spa area, and bespoke changing rooms supported a thriving membership base of around 800 people.
Expectations have changed.
Today, with over 5,000 members, people look for larger, more functional gyms, more equipment, flexible training spaces, integrated wellness areas, and inclusive facilities that can support broad community use. A small gym with a self contained spa and separate changing rooms no longer meets modern expectations, and crucially, the current footprint prevents the gym from expanding further.
In reviewing the centre’s soft play area, which needed replacement, we chose not to simply recreate what we had. Instead, we took the opportunity to step back and take a strategic, future focused look at the entire building. After five decades of incremental changes, it is time to reshape Worthing Leisure Centre in a way that serves the majority of users for the next 20 years.
A Redevelopment Built on the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit
Our redevelopment approach focuses on the three pillars that ensure longterm sustainability:
People
We are committed to creating a facility that is accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to all. The redevelopment will introduce natural light into the gym, improve the overall member experience, and create spaces designed for community wellbeing. These upgrades reflect the changing expectations of our users and ensure that the centre serves everyone, from longstanding members to new generations discovering active lifestyles.
Planet
As a responsible operator, we recognise the environmental impact of our buildings. The redevelopment includes:
- LED lighting across the centre to reduce energy consumption
- Improved environmental efficiency where possible in upgraded areas
- A long term plan to install Solar PV, reducing carbon footprint and energy costs over time
These steps ensure that Worthing Leisure Centre is not only modern but future proofed and environmentally responsible.
Profit
Financial sustainability is essential for us to keep reinvesting in our facilities. By creating a more attractive, functional, and efficient centre, we expect:
- Increased membership and usage
- Higher income that can be reinvested into ongoing maintenance and future improvements
Worthing Leisure Centre Gym & Soft Play Redevelopment - Customer FAQs
These FAQs provide information about the planned redevelopment of Worthing Leisure Centre. They are intended to answer common questions and will be updated as the project progresses.
The redevelopment will modernise key areas of the centre, improve the overall customer experience, and ensure the facility remains fit for purpose for the long term.
No. This is not a full rebuild of the site. The redevelopment focuses on key areas within the existing building to modernise the centre and improve the current layout, while making the best use of the space available within the existing building footprint.
Yes. Plans for redevelopment have been reviewed over many years, with consultation carried out with users at different stages. Feedback has helped shape the current proposals so far, however feedback on the recent centre user survey has given us valuable insight and is helping shape plans further.
The main aims are to improve facilities, make better use of space, support future services, and keep the centre open wherever possible during the works.
Customers can expect a bigger and better gym, improved studio and soft play provision, a more welcoming arrival experience, and modernised spaces designed to support health, fitness and family activity.
Yes. Where possible, the redevelopment will include energy-efficient improvements such as LED lighting and enhanced environmental performance in upgraded areas. There is also a longer-term plan to explore the installation of Solar PV, helping to reduce the centre’s carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency over time.
The redevelopment is being funded from South Downs Leisure’s financial reserves. As a charitable not-for-profit organisation, all surplus income is reinvested back into facilities, services and the local community.
We do not have plans to increase membership prices as a result of the redevelopment. This investment is being funded through South Downs Leisure’s financial reserves, built up over time, allowing us to reinvest in the centre while continuing to offer good value for our members.
Works are currently planned to begin in May 2026.
The project will be delivered in three stages, with an estimated total build time of around 28 weeks. Exact timings will be confirmed as plans progress.
Yes. The redevelopment has been carefully phased to minimise disruption and allow services to continue wherever possible.
Stage 1 includes the redevelopment of the current gym and Amazon Adventure soft play areas, with gym facilities relocated to a temporary space in the Projectile Range area while the new gym is built. This means customers will still be able to work out during the redevelopment works.
Stage 1 is currently estimated to take around 15 weeks.
The gym, health suite and Amazon Adventure soft play will be the first areas affected.
Gym facilities will be temporarily relocated to the Range while the new gym is built. The weights room will remain open so customers can continue to work out during Stage 1.
The temporary pop-up gym will be located in the Projectile Range within Worthing Leisure Centre. This is inside the building, in the east of the centre, past the café. It is not the Range shop in East Worthing. Clear signage will be in place to help customers find the temporary gym during the redevelopment works.
The weights room will be incorporated into the new, larger gym area, which will expand into the current Amazon Adventure space. This will create a more spacious and modern gym environment.
Amazon Adventure will close as part of Stage 1. Brand new soft play facilities will be delivered as part of Stage 3 of the redevelopment.
As part of the gym redevelopment works, the Health Suite will not return in its current form. Feedback from customers via the recent survey has helped shape plans for a new wellness room to be included as part of the redevelopment, with features likely to include a red-light sauna. Final details are still being confirmed.
In the meantime, customers can continue to access health suite facilities at Splashpoint Leisure Centre, including the sauna, steam room and heat beds.
Yes. The reception area will be redeveloped as part of Stage 2 to create a more welcoming and modern arrival experience.
No. Activities taking place on the football pitches and athletics track, along with other clubs and external services, will continue as normal. There may be some minor, temporary disruption during certain phases of the redevelopment, but we will always aim to keep this to a minimum and communicate any changes in advance.
Yes. The Range will temporarily house the pop-up gym using relocated equipment.
No. Shooting and archery activities will be discontinued as part of the redevelopment.
Yes. New treatment rooms are being planned as part of the Stage 1 redevelopment works.
There may be temporary changes or relocations during certain phases of the redevelopment. Clear signage and advance communication will be provided.
Yes. Both the café and crèche are expected to remain open, subject to specific phases of work.
No. There are no plans to remove any badminton courts. All courts will remain available once the redevelopment is complete. Some short-term disruption may occur if classes are temporarily relocated, but this will be kept to a minimum.
Yes. Group exercise classes will continue throughout the redevelopment.
No changes are currently planned, although some classes may move to alternative spaces during the works.
Yes. All bookings will continue through existing systems.
The redevelopment does not include new facilities such as a swimming pool or padel courts. The focus is on transforming existing spaces to improve the gym, studios, reception and soft play offer. While padel courts are not part of this development, they will continue to be considered for future projects.
Health and safety will remain a priority throughout the redevelopment, with clear separation of construction areas, restricted access where required, and ongoing risk assessments.
Some timings, layouts, operational arrangements, and final gym equipment selections are still being finalised.
New equipment is anticipated as part of the redevelopment, but the final mix has not yet been confirmed.
Yes. Accessibility will be a key consideration in the design and equipment selection process.
