As the multi-million-pound transformation of the Walnuts Leisure Centre continues to progress, the new look of the pool and leisure centre has been revealed.
Residents can now get a better sense of the new competition-length pool and leisure centre spaces, including the café and reception, from images showing the anticipated new design of the centre.
Significant progress is continuing on site, including extensive works to the pool hall, window replacements and the completion of works to the roof. The centre is set to reopen in Spring 2026 following the major £17m refurbishment, which is being funded and delivered by Bromley.
Alongside the new pool at the Walnuts, reconfigured changing rooms with new showers and lockers will also be delivered, as well as an improved gym and a new exercise studio with brand new state-of-the-art EGYM smart strength training equipment. This new equipment recognises user’s profiles and adjusts each workout to their body and strength levels, ensuring each session is safe and effective. Essential repairs and a completely new heating system will also reduce running costs at the centre and help ensure the smooth running of the site.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “I know there is great anticipation for the reopening of this much-loved leisure centre next year and I hope these new designs really give residents a sense of the complete transformation we are delivering for Orpington. This refreshed centre will be a huge boost to the borough’s leisure offering and will act as a hub for regional sporting activity while creating a welcoming space for families and visitors to enjoy, all while cutting our future maintenance liabilities on behalf of council taxpayers.”
To minimise disruption during the works, Mytime Active, the borough’s long-standing leisure provider, has been running a comprehensive programme of alternative leisure services, which continue to be available at Crofton Halls and Sports Centre.
Steve May, Chief Executive Officer at Mytime Active, said: “We have been closely watching as work at the Walnuts continues and are incredibly excited for the launch of the new centre following its multi-million-pound investment.
“The new EGYM equipment has been a huge success at our other centres, The Pavilion and the Spa at Beckenham, and we can’t wait for our Walnuts members to try it out. Strength training is incredibly important to build muscle that will help you stay strong, mobile and independent throughout every stage of life, and with each workout personalised for every user, alongside a gamified screen to guide each movement, it’s like having a personal trainer built into the machine. Along with all the other major improvements, the new look centre will offer a vibrant hub for the local community for generations to come.”
The works at the Walnuts are being progressed alongside the creation of a new West Wickham Leisure Centre with the council’s partner contractors Alliance Leisure, a specialist in leisure centre redevelopment, and sub-contractor Etec Contract Services.
Ruth Ripsher, Delivery Manager at Alliance Leisure Services said: “Having supported Bromley Council throughout this project, it is incredibly exciting to see the work now coming off the ground. These new designs reflect a vision we have been working toward for some time, and as the development partner, we are proud to be turning those plans into a reality that will serve Orpington for generations."
Updates about the leisure centre works will be provided on the council website.
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For media enquiries, please contact James George, Senior Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8313 4565 or email james.george@bromley.gov.uk.
About Mytime Active
Mytime Active is an independent charity and social enterprise on a mission to improve wellbeing in its local communities. Mytime Active strives to help people get more out of life through a range of more than 100 accessible services. These include swimming, golf, gyms, group exercise programmes, bowling, soft play, social events, childcare and health programmes at locations across Bromley, the Midlands and Hampshire.
Mytime Active’s family-friendly services cater to every segment of the community, from children and parents to young golfers and older members. It offers specialised and inclusive programmes for various groups including those with health conditions, disabilities, new parents, older individuals and young people, to ensure that everyone gets more out of life.
Mytime Active is one of the first leisure operators in the country to have been awarded The Active Standard (TAS) a new mark of excellence from ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector. TAS demonstrates Mytime Active’s commitment to ensuring quality, safety and inclusivity for customers and staff.
Mytime Active reinvests all its profits back where it matters most, into facilities, services and programmes, as well as into community activities, for the long-term wellbeing of the local community.