Built on behalf of the West Dorset District Council, Dorset County Council and the Thomas Hardye School, the new sports centre replaces leisure facilities on the Thomas Hardye School site, on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.
It offers a six-lane, 25 metre swimming pool and learner pool with spectator gallery, a state-of-the-art fitness suite, dance studio, changing village and increased car parking. Inspired by the traditional style of Duchy’s nearby Poundbury Estate, the pool hall is designed to maximise the views of the surrounding countryside, including Maiden Castle.
The new sports centre, which aims at providing first-class swimming and fitness facilities to the local community, will be used both by local schools and the community, and will be open to the public later this summer. It will be managed by non-profit making leisure trust 1610 Ltd.
