Construction of Abbey Leisure Centre, a major project central to the council’s extensive regeneration of Barking.

The project included feasibility into a number of site locations for the leisure centre. The site chosen for the project was small and located in the centre of Barking, adjacent to the Town Hall, surrounded on all sides by existing highways and public buildings. The site is also located close to the boundary of the Abbey and Barking Town Centre Conservation Area, which is to the south west of the site.

The scope of works included site clearance and demolition of an existing public house and vacant residential properties, together with public utility service divisions.

Abbey Leisure Centre opened its doors in 2015 and its facilities included a 25 x 13m 6 lane competition swimming pool, 13 x 7m Learner Pool, Café (with external seating), administration and Kids Play areas, a 120-station gym, aerobics and spin studios and a Health Spa.

The brief also required that the existing adjacent Abbey Sports Centre must be kept open to the public until the new centre opened.