Maximising public value at lease renewal without overextending budgets
"Sitting at lease renewal, we needed a solution that added value without adding risk. This did exactly that."
— Tracy Baxter, General Manager - Shirebrook Leisure Centre
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The Challenge
Reaching the end of the equipment lease created a natural decision point for the council. The gym needed to continue meeting the needs of a broad local community while responding to growing demand for more varied and functional training.
Any changes had to be carefully balanced. Space was limited, and the council needed to avoid solutions that reduced inclusivity, increased operational complexity, or weakened the case for responsible use of public funds.
The Solution
Gym Gear treated lease renewal as an opportunity to extend capability rather than increase scale. The focus was on extracting more value from the existing footprint while keeping financial exposure predictable.
Functional and higher-intensity training capacity was expanded in a controlled way, enabling greater variety without dominating the space. Cardio provision was increased to support interval-based use, while remaining suitable for general fitness and rehabilitation.
In the strength area, layouts were reworked to introduce additional training functions without removing familiar equipment, preserving continuity for existing users while improving overall flexibility.
The Result
The renewed gym now supports a wider range of training needs within the same space, leading to more balanced and consistent usage across the facility. Members benefit from greater choice without the environment becoming more complex or intimidating.
For the council, the lease renewal delivers clear public value: improved utilisation, stronger engagement, and expanded capability without overreaching financially. The facility remains accessible, sustainable, and defensible as a long-term use of public funding.
