Ponds Forge to undergo multi-million pound refurbishment

4th June 2015

A state-of-the-art gym and brand new changing facilities will be introduced at one of Sheffield's biggest leisure venues as part of a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, operated by not-for-profit organisation Sheffield City Trust (SCT), will be kitted out with the latest fitness equipment and its new spinning studio will make it one of the first gyms in the country with Technogym bikes. The current Fitness Unlimited gym will be expanded to make space for the new kit and enable more people to exercise thanks to a major investment by SCT and Sheffield City Council. It will be leading in ultra-modern technology with a Wellness System and MyWellness Cloud equipment to track fitness development, Technogym apparatus and the dynamic, pressure-sensitive lighting and sound Prama system which will bring the gym's floors and walls to life to create an energetic and motivating atmosphere. The free weights area will also be expanded and there will be a large multi-functional zone in the gym's centre designed to make the space more flexible. Team, competition pool, and members changing areas will be re-fitted with new showers and lockers and the latter will also have a spa with sauna and steam room. Other developments include a revamp of the swimming and gym reception and a change of access points to improve security. Steve Brailey, chief executive of SCT, said: -This major investment demonstrates our commitment to encouraging the people of Sheffield to move more. Every year we carry out extensive investment work to improve our facilities and sessions for all members of the community. -The refurbishment at Ponds Forge will provide modern state-of-the-art fitness equipment for all our customers and will also improve the changing areas for pool users. All this will contribute to our ongoing goal to improve the health and wellbeing of Sheffield by creating top-of-the-range venues where local people can go to exercise and improve their fitness. The redevelopment is being supported by Sheffield City Council. Councillor Isobel Bowler cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Sheffield City Council, said: -We are very pleased that we as the council have been able to support SCT and make this refurbishment possible. -Ponds Forge is one of the city's most prestigious sports facilities and is an excellent city centre venue, for everyone from children learning to swim through to Olympic-level athletes. I am delighted that the facilities there will be enhanced. -The refurbishment should encourage even more people from across Sheffield to visit Ponds Forge and use the revamped gym, swimming pool and spa. -Taking part in sport and physical activity is an important factor in feeling well and being protected against disease, so ensuring that Sheffield's facilities continue to attract users is an essential part of improving the health of our residents. The current gym will close on Friday 3 July and re-open as a temporary gym in the sports hall on Monday 6 July until 21 September. There will be no free weights during this period due to the risk of damage to the sports hall floor. The gym reception point will be relocated to the sports hall entrance. Members' changing rooms will close on 15 June and Fitness Unlimited members can use the competition pool changing area until 6 July, then the sports hall changing rooms until 21 September. There will be no spa facilities during this time. Competition pool changing rooms will close on 10 August, after the British Age Group Championships, and customers can use the newly refurbished team changing area or leisure pool changing facilities. The team changing area is currently closed for refurbishment, but work is due to be completed by 7 July. SCT is reviewing the gym class schedule and will make customers aware of the new timetable as soon as it is revised. Steve said: -We are working hard to ensure the improvement work causes as little disruption and inconvenience as possible to our members and have put several alternative provisions in place. All refurbishment work is expected to be completed by the end of October. For more information about Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, visit: www.sivltd.com/ponds_forge. For more information about Fitness Unlimited visit www.fitnessunlimited.co.uk/ponds-forge-developments.