Seymour Leisure Centre Achieves Planning Permission

We are delighted that the revitalisation of the Grade II-listed Seymour Leisure Centre in Westminster has been granted planning permission.

Pell Frischmann, in collaboration with our sister company Desco, Make Architects, Project Managers Hadron, and Willmott Dixon, have been instrumental in this retrofit effort. Our team is proud to be providing structural and civil Engineering services to support Westminster City Council’s vision of transforming the iconic art-deco sports centre into a modern, versatile community hub.

The project

Constructed in 1937, the Grade II listed building stands as a remarkable example of the era’s popular public bathhouses. Originally designed by architect Kenneth Cross in a “renaissance palazzo style,” the structure features two swimming pools, a basement, and striking reinforced concrete elliptical arches spanning 20 meters over the main hall.

Image Credit: Make Architects

The project comprises the complete refurbishment of the centre including the relocation of Marylebone Library, a new café located within the ground floor children’s library, refurbished climbing wall, soft play area, swimming pool, changing facilities, gym, spa facilities and sports hall. There will also be the addition of community spaces and improvements to the heating and ventilation system which will help the council on its journey to become a net zero council.

Image Credit: Make Architects

Image Credit: Make Architects

The redevelopment proposes the removal of the redundant swimming pool tank to facilitate the fitness suite on the lower ground floor and new lifts will be installed to provide accessibility for all.

Image Credit: Make Architects

Seymour Leisure Centre and Pell Frischmann

Through maximising the reuse of materials, a thorough understanding of the existing structure, and employment of low carbon solutions, we anticipate the A1-A5 structural Embodied Carbon associated with the development to be 70kgCO2e/m2, within the LETI 2030 targets and achieving the rating A+ according to the IstructE SCORS system.

Juliano Chapon, Pell Frischmann’s Technical Director of Buildings, commented:

Seymour Leisure Centre exemplifies the adaptive transformation of a leisure building for a post-Covid world. Maximizing reuse through thoughtful design that embraces the building’s constraints is fundamental to achieving our Net-Zero Carbon ambitions.