Operator announced for Moorways Sports Village

Derby City Council has announced the identity of the business who will operate the £42 million Moorways Sports Village.

Everyone Active will manage the brand-new swimming pool and water park, together with the existing athletics track and football pitches at the adjoining Moorways Stadium.

Everyone Active was founded in 1987, making it the UK’s longest-established leisure contractor.

It is one of the UK’s leading operators for local leisure, gym, swimming and activities facilities, and works in partnership with more than 60 local authorities to manage over 200 leisure and cultural centres across the country.

Work is almost complete on the construction of Moorways Sports Village, with handover by construction partner Bowmer + Kirkland to the council due to go ahead as planned this month.

The swimming pools have been filled and all the water park rides commissioned.

Councillor Ross McCristal, the city council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure, wellbeing and sport, said: “We have achieved our aim of finding an excellent partner for the fantastic Moorways Sports Village and we are excited to be working with Everyone Active.

“They impressed us with their commitment to helping people become active and stay healthy and will offer something for the entire community to enjoy.”

Simon Fearn, Everyone Active’s regional contract manager, said: “As an East Midlands-founded company with extensive experience in nearby Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and East Staffordshire, it’s fantastic that we’ve been appointed to manage and develop the facilities within familiar territory that’s close to our heart.

“This outstanding centre is so important for health and wellbeing in the local area. We are incredibly privileged to be chosen to manage it on the council’s behalf.

“We look forward to creating a close, impactful relationship with the council which we hope will last for many years to come.”

The state-of-the art features at the new Moorways Sports Village include a 10-lane, 50-metre swimming pool with moveable floors and booms to create three 25-metre pools, allowing flexible use for both leisure swimmers and club training sessions.

The water park area has two flumes, rides and slides, and a gently sloping leisure pool with a wave-creating ‘Wow Ball’, the only one in a public leisure centre in the UK.

Other facilities include a smaller teaching pool, a spa area, a gym and fitness studios.

Off the main reception is a soft play area for children and a large open plan café, offering views over both the 50-metre pool and the water park, and a second, smaller soft play area.

Once the building has been handed over, Everyone Active will agree its action plan with the council for getting it ready to welcome the public, and a date will be set for the opening.