South Ayrshire Council has confirmed that works on the Citadel’s roof and façade will begin on Monday 18 November.

This is the start of a programme of works at the popular leisure centre, which is set to benefit from an extensive refurbishment programme.  

The project will be led by the Council’s appointed leisure development specialist, Alliance Leisure, and supported by architect and principal designer, Holmes Miller and principal contractor, Robertson Construction Central West. The rest of the design and build team includes project managers and quantity surveyors, Axiom Project Services; mechanical and electrical engineers, WPS; and structural engineers, Struer.

The initial phase of the works will see a section of the existing roof replaced to address water ingress.  This will enhance the roof’s thermal performance and the overall energy efficiency of the building.

The planned exterior work includes renewal of some of the glazing around the centre and brickwork repairs.

Construction vehicles and equipment will be on site from Monday 4 November, which means that some of the parking bays in the Citadel carpark will be unavailable to customers while the work is being carried out.

There are other free parking options close by, including some on-street parking in South Harbour Street and people can also make use of the free car park on Cromwell Road, which is approximately a five-minute walk from the Citadel.

The centre will be open as normal to customers and Sport & Leisure members during these exterior works, which are expected to last for around 19 weeks.  After these are complete the next phase of the upgrade will commence and we’ll provide more details about this in a future update.

South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, said: “It’s brilliant to know that we’re now very close to beginning work at the Citadel.  These essential exterior works, once complete, will allow us to progress to the interior upgrade when service users will start to see a realimprovement to the facility.”  

South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Sport and Leisure, Councillor Brian Connolly, said: “I’m pleased that we have a start date for the initial external works atthe Citadel.  This is the first step towards bringing the building up to modern standards for our customers and Sport & Leisure members.”  

South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Buildings, Housing and Environment, Councillor Martin Kilbride, said: “The exterior works on the Citadel will allow us todeliver significant improvements in energy efficiency and extend the lifespan of the centre, while paving the way for the planned interior enhancements.  It’ll be great to see the project kick off next month.”  

Jonny Curley, Director for Scotland, Alliance Leisure, said: “We are excited to begin work on the transformation of the Citadel Leisure Centre. This project will not only address essential repairs but will also improve the overall visitor experience to create a key leisure and recreation destination for residents and visitors alike.”

Alan Cadger, Project Director at Holmes Miller, said: “The Citadel is a prime example of breathing new life into an existing building to create a vibrant and sustainable hub that enhances the lives of its surrounding community. The original structure has great potential and we’ve been inspired to maintain its well-loved character, while modernising its design to cater to the needs of local people. Our overarching ambition was to create a recreational space that is accessible to all, where visitors can come together, relax and enjoy the variety of high-quality leisure facilities provided. We look forward to seeing this project come to life in the coming months.”

Andy McLinden, Managing Director, Robertson Construction Central West, said:“Working with Alliance Leisure to support South Ayrshire Council in improving and revamping existing buildings for local communities, the much-loved Citadel Leisure Centre will receive a transformation of its facilities. With the end users in mind, we will ensure that we deliver a thriving community leisure hub that will promote accessible sport and physical activity opportunities for the local community and beyond.”