Spelthorne Borough Council is celebrating a major achievement after winning a national award for the Eclipse Leisure Centre at the iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards which celebrate the most innovative projects in local public service.
This award recognised the Council’s ambitious vision, which began in 2017, to create one of the most sustainable leisure centres in the world. A proposal was put forward to build a new leisure centre to Passivhaus design standards and construct a groundbreaking facility which would become one of the first and the world’s largest Passivhaus leisure centres.
Working alongside GT3 architects, Gale and Snowden, and Willmott Dixon, Spelthorne Borough Council turned the vision into reality, officially opening the Eclipse Leisure Centre in October 2024 which represents a breakthrough in energy efficiency, using over 60% less energy than traditional leisure facilities and setting new standards for sustainability in the sector.
Accepting the award, Spelthorne’s Leader, Councillor Joanne Sexton said: “Back in 2017, Spelthorne Borough Council set out to do something bold: create one of the world’s most environmentally friendly leisure centres. With our fantastic partners, we turned that vision into reality. This project is a game-changer, not just for Spelthorne but for the future of sustainable leisure facilities. A huge thank you to our dedicated team and everyone who made this possible. Here’s to a greener, healthier future!”
Cllr Susan Doran, Chair of Spelthorne’s Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee, said: “Thank you very much for this Award. We are very proud of everything that has been achieved and the fact we have delivered one of the most advanced and energy efficient centres in the world. It represents a significant investment in the health and wellbeing of local people and will serve the community for many years to come.”
Richard Poulter, Managing Director at Willmott Dixon Construction South, said: “We are incredibly proud to have played a key role in delivering Eclipse, a pioneering project that sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the leisure sector. This award is a well-deserved recognition of Spelthorne Borough Council’s bold vision and commitment to environmental excellence. Working collaboratively with our partners, we’ve created a facility that will benefit the community for generations while significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Congratulations to everyone involved in making Eclipse a reality.”
For information about the Eclipse Leisure Centre, visit https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/eclipseleisurecentre
For more information about the iESE Awards, visit https://iese.org.uk/public-sector-transformation-awards
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