"We had to be confident that any investment would work for everyone in the community, not just confident gym users. The new gym gives us flexibility, accessibility, and reassurance that we’ve invested in something that will serve residents well for years."
— Halewood Leisure Centre
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The Challenge
While the gym at Halewood Leisure Centre remained well used, the facilities no longer reflected a modern-aesthetic or modern training expectations. User behaviour was changing, with growing demand for functional training, larger free weights areas, and hybrid-style workouts alongside traditional gym use. At the same time, the centre needed to ensure that any refresh continued to support a wide demographic, from active older adults to increasingly confident strength and conditioning users. The challenge was to modernise without narrowing appeal or creating a space that would quickly feel outdated.
The Solution
Gym Gear worked with Halewood Leisure Centre to redesign the gym around flexibility, relevance, and long-term usability. The layout was rebalanced to accommodate modern training methods such as functional and high-intensity training, while expanding free weights provision to reflect shifting participation trends, including increased female engagement in strength training. Dedicated zones were introduced to allow different training styles to coexist comfortably, supported by flooring and equipment choices selected for durability and ease of upkeep. Throughout the process, decisions were guided by the need to modernise the look and feel of the space while ensuring it remained welcoming and usable for all sections of the community.
The Result
The refurbished gym now better reflects how residents want to train, with increased engagement across strength, functional, and hybrid-style workouts. The improved aesthetics and clearer zoning have refreshed the perception of the facility, helping it feel contemporary without excluding less confident users. Halewood Leisure Centre now operates a gym that can adapt to evolving fitness trends, supports a broader range of training behaviours, and protects the long-term value of a publicly funded asset through durable, future-focused design.
