Clay Cross Active

Client North East Derbyshire District Council

Value £24.4 million

Location Chesterfield

Completion Summer 2025

Services

Architecture

Key stats

3,192

Memberships in first month

850+

Residents consulted

£24.4m

Civic wellbeing investment

Community support

NHS and Citizens Advice services available

Project details

Clay Cross Active is a new civic health, wellbeing and leisure hub delivered for North East Derbyshire District Council. Officially opened in June 2025, the £24.4 million development replaces the former Sharley Park Leisure Centre with a welcoming and inclusive community destination designed to tackle inactivity, improve access to essential support services and support the wider regeneration of Clay Cross.

Located next to a well-used local park and within walking distance of the town centre, the hub brings together leisure, wellbeing, community and healthcare provision in one accessible setting. Facilities include a 25m swimming pool, learner pool, 100-station gym, group cycling studio, four-court sports hall, wellness suite, soft play, TAGactive, café, community rooms, Citizens Advice services and NHS maternity and child health support.

Shaped by consultation with more than 850 residents, alongside engagement with local partners, operators, health providers and disability groups, the design removes barriers to participation through level access, automatic doors, Changing Places, Pool Pods, safe arrival routes and dementia-friendly wayfinding. By retaining and remodelling the existing sports hall, the project also reduced embodied carbon and allowed parts of the former centre to remain operational during construction.

Key Deliverables

Commercial Value

Clay Cross Active delivers commercial value by creating a flexible, multi-use civic asset that supports leisure, wellbeing, healthcare and community services under one roof. The project retained and remodelled the existing sports hall to reduce embodied carbon and maximise the value of the existing estate, while the wider facility mix creates multiple routes for income and long-term use. In its first month, the centre achieved 3,192 memberships, exceeding the level originally expected by year five and demonstrating strong early demand.
Social Impact

Designed in response to local challenges including long-term health conditions, childhood obesity, economic inactivity and social isolation, Clay Cross Active places community wellbeing at the heart of the brief. The hub brings together sport, fitness, play, healthcare, Citizens Advice support and community spaces, making it easier for residents to access activity and essential services in one familiar setting. Inclusive design features, shaped by consultation with more than 850 residents and local disability groups, help remove barriers to participation and create a welcoming facility for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.