Willmott Dixon set to start work early next year
Make Architects has submitted proposals to refurbish a grade II-listed 1930s leisure centre in Westminster, adding a new community library and caf茅 in the process.
Designed by Kenneth Cross and completed in 1937, Seymour Leisure Centre in Marylebone was built as a palazzo-style red-brick courtyard block with two swimming pools in concrete structures concealed at the centre.
Westminster City Council鈥檚 cabinet last year allocated 拢40m for the building鈥檚 latest refurbishment, which will include providing a new base for Marylebone Library over two floors. Although the sports centre is owned by the council it is operated by business Everyone Active.
Westminster is targeting a start on site for the project early next year for completion in early 2026.
Willmott Dixon is main contractor; project manager is Hadron Consulting; Donald Insall Associates is heritage consultant.
Make鈥檚 proposals will create open-plan gym space on the lower ground floor and add a new range of studios for spin, aerobics and other classes.
The Seymour Centre originally had two indoor pools, a stage, a spectators鈥� area, a laundry, individual slipper baths, and a flat for the facility鈥檚 superintendent.
Only the smaller of its two pools now remains. The original 鈥渇irst-class swimming pool鈥� is now the sports hall at the centre of the building.
The project will see the removal of the main swimming-pool tank to create space for the new lower-ground-floor fitness suite.
The existing roof lanterns and wind catchers in the sports hall will be replaced with new double-glazed versions, and secondary glazing will be installed on all other sports-hall windows.
The roof lantern above the remaining swimming pool will be replaced with a double-glazed lantern. An external private roof terrace will also be created as part of the project. Additionally, four new passenger lifts and three platform lifts will be installed.
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