Move Southwark is gearing up to launch a multi-million pound leisure centre at Canada Water, which is part of the masterplan to regenerate the area.

The 53-acre mixed-use site is being designed to become London’s first new town centre in 50 years. There will be around 3,000 net-zero carbon homes, including affordable and social housing; up to 2 million square feet of offices; 1 million square feet of community, cultural and retail space; 12 acres of public open space including a 3.5 acre park, and pedestrian and cycle friendly streets.

Opening on 1 September, Canada Water Leisure Centre will replace the current Seven Islands Leisure Centre. Operated by Move Southwark, it will run services in partnership with the NHS and the Southwark Council’s public health team.

Facilities include an eight-lane main pool and a learner pool, a cycling studio, a mind and body studio, a high energy studio, a four-court, multi-use sports hall and a 150-station gym, supplied by Pulse. Move Southwark has invested £1.8 million in the fit-out.

“The aim of the new build is to create a facility which is not intimidating, and feels like a safe space for older adults and special populations to visit which doesn’t have people dropping weights and doing all sorts of crazy exercises,” Move Southwark’s commercial and operations director, Natalie Davies-Lane told HCM.

Formed in 2023 when the London Borough of Southwark took its leisure services back in-house, Move Southwark has invested heavily in its leisure stock with gym refits at five of its sites. The goal was to make the offering competitive in the central London market, and the team worked with Zynk to create an upmarket look and feel.

“We wanted to change the face of what a standard leisure centre looks like,” says Davies-Lane. “I looked at what companies like Third Space were doing – the kits and kit providers they were using, how they laid it out, the lighting, the things that are seen as a nice to have, but actually make a major impact.”

Alongside the upgrades, the team are laser-focused on tackling the health inequalities in the borough. Davies-Lane says Move Southwark is running a health equity service, with the focus on getting all demographics to move more by removing barriers and meeting them where they are.

Sessions in libraries, community halls and youth centres are being used to reach out and bridge the gap for those who find the leisure centres intimidating. Free swimming lessons and free gym and swim memberships are offered, with 24.5 per cent of the population (75,512 individuals) making use of this. Including swim and fitness classes the reach is 35.5 per cent penetration (109,247).

“We’re not measuring our success by pound signs, we’re working our way through the list of health issues in our borough and want to be one of the healthiest boroughs of London, showing that leisure facilities can make an impact on, and be deliverers for, health,” says Davies-Lane.

To find out more about how Move Southwark is working in partnership with the public health team to tackle health inequalities in the London borough since taking leisure services back in house, read the full interview with Davies-Lane in an upcoming issue. Sign up here for a free digital subscription