An enlarged fitness suite has been opened at Leith Victoria’s Swim Centre in Edinburgh – in a £1.5m extension on stilts over the facility’s carpark.

Work on the project began in May 2007 and has seen the gym increase in size from 104sq m to 300sq m, studio space increase from 90sq m to 200sq m and a new mind-body studio created on the site of the former gym for yoga, Pilates and body balance.

June Peebles, director of business development for Edinburgh Leisure, the trust which operates the facility, said: “People may have swapped baths for Bodyjam, but Leith’s appetite for their local pool, and latterly leisure centre, has continued unabated throughout the 1900s and into the 21st century.



“By extending Leith Victoria, we can meet this ever-growing demand for health and fitness whilst continuing to delight our existing customers.”



City of Edinburgh Council Sports Leader Deidre Brock added: “We continue to drive towards our goal of making Edinburgh the most physically active city in Europe by 2020 and this along with other projects will play a big part in getting us there.



“With this fantastic addition to Leith’s ever popular sports centre and with Edinburgh Leisure’s commitment to top quality facilities right across the city there are now more opportunities to get active wherever you live and whatever your interests.”



The project was funded though the Prudential scheme, where Edinburgh Leisure is responsible for repaying the full cost of the project to the City of Edinburgh Council over a 20 year period.

“This project could set a precedent for how others are funded in the future, allowing us to enhance the city’s leisure facilities without taking from the public purse,” said Peebles.

Photograph: Hibernian FC’s Ross Chisholm and Ross Campbell try out the new gym