The new-look Kingfisher Leisure Centre in Sudbury has officially opened its doors following a £2.4m extension and refurbishment – providing leisure facilities for the town for years to come.

The new facilities are part of a multi-million pound investment by Babergh District Council, with its leisure partner Abbeycroft Leisure, to modernise leisure provision in the town.

Funds also include £100,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy collected from developers building new homes in Sudbury, to ensure local development also supports community facilities.

The leisure centre works, carried out by Beardwell Construction, include:

  • a two-storey extension to house a new community and exercise room and dance studio
  • extended and refurbished 100 station gym, increasing capacity from 40 stations
  • improved fitness changing rooms
  • new poolside wet changing and toilet facilities
  • improved lighting, décor, and mechanical equipment

New cycle storage has been installed at the front of the building, meaning members can access and use the facilities more easily by bike. Supporting a shift towards sustainable travel options, and the council’s environmental ambitions.

Cllr Derek Davis, cabinet member for communities at Babergh District Council, said:

“We’ve invested in the Kingfisher Leisure Centre, as part of our wider vision for Sudbury, to ensure we have the right facilities for Babergh’s residents to remain healthy and active for years to come.

“With work carried out in a phased approach, customers have been able to continue to enjoy their leisure activities throughout construction. I hope the enjoyment of getting active at the centre will continue for future generations.

“Both these and the upgrades taking place at Hadleigh Pool and Leisure, are part of our continued commitment to ensuring our communities have healthy futures. I’d encourage everyone to get active safely and try out the new facilities for themselves.”

Tracey Loynds, development director for Abbeycroft Leisure, said:

“This is a huge investment for us and for Sudbury, and it’s wonderful to see the community returning to enjoy the new facilities and get active once again following the most recent lockdown.

“Our customers have been amazingly patient while we’ve been working hard to bring the centre’s facilities up to date and improve the customer experience.

“We look forward to seeing more customers booking in to use the new equipment and space, with more information about everything you need to know before your visit to our AC Leisure website.”

The gym is currently being run at lower capacity, to allow returning customers to exercise safely, and extra room for social distancing in line with COVID-19 guidelines.

Find photographs of the official opening of the new extension and facilities