A sport and leisure centre in Morpeth is celebrating becoming a multi-award-winning facility after scooping the Community Benefit award at this year's RICS North East Awards.

Since opening its doors in April 2023, the centre has seen huge engagement from the community, with an increase of 200 to 260% in swim, gym and class visits, as well as a 165% increase in community members. The project has now won best 'Community Benefit' at the RICS North East Awards, and 'Design Excellence' at Insider's North East Property Awards. This comes after being ranked as ‘best in the country’ in a Quest appraisal last year.

Bookending the existing high street, the centre sits at the edge of town beside the River Wansbeck on Gas House Lane. As well as offering sporting facilities – including a six-lane swimming pool and spectator gallery, learning pool, spa and fitness suites, alongside multi-use sports halls and studios – this facility acts as a local community hub.

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Morpeth Leisure Centre was commissioned and funded by Northumberland County Council and Advance Northumberland, designed by leading firm GT3 Architects and constructed by Willmott Dixon. The planning application was prepared and managed by DPP Planning.

Paul Reed, director and sport and leisure lead at GT3 Architects, said: "Perhaps unusually for an architect, our focus has never been on just creating a beautiful building, but on what a well-designed facility can offer the local community – although we aim to achieve that aesthetic finish too. Morpeth Leisure Centre compliments the town centre offering, and contributes to wider local efforts, which includes creating happier and healthier communities while supporting regeneration and sustainability.

"The continued recognition in both design excellence and community benefit highlights the hard work and dedication of the entire design team from start to finish. I believe Morpeth represents the next evolution in leisure and community building typology and it’s been brilliant to see what a positive impact it’s had, and will continue to have, for the people of Morpeth."

Jo Robison, Director at DPP Planning, said: "As a true mixed-use leisure centre in the heart of Morpeth, the planning and development of this site was incredibly complex, with many factors to consider. Despite the site challenges, the whole design team collaborated to create an amazing building. The facility is not only impressive in its design, but also acts as a much-needed local community venue and a new attraction for the town. With record member uptake and engagement in the facilities since opening, we are delighted that the new leisure centre continues to get recognised for its community impact."