A £2.4 million upgrade of Armagh’s Orchard Leisure Centre has moved a step closer, with ABC Council seeking a contractor for a project expected to begin in November.
The council owns the Folly Lane venue and has put the work out to tender. The deadline for tenders is August 24, with an appointment expected shortly afterwards. The planned contract will run for 12 months, with the upgraded leisure centre intended to return to full operation by the end of November 2027.
What the Orchard Leisure Centre project includes
The scheme will focus on two main areas: refurbishment of the existing Vitality Suite and mechanical and electrical improvements throughout the centre.
Work in the Vitality Suite would include stripping out the existing facility and installing new partitions, flooring, ceilings and wall finishes. The plans also provide for a new sanarium, plunge pools and showers.
The wider centre will receive an upgrade to its mechanical and electrical services. The Vitality Suite element has been described as the project’s “biggest customer facing piece of work”, with a sanarium, hot tub and cold plunge, new showers, heated seating and new wall and floor coverings included.
Closure and disruption arrangements not yet confirmed
It is not yet known whether Orchard Leisure Centre will need to close fully or partially while the work is carried out. The arrangements will depend on the contractor appointed and the works programme agreed.
When the project was previously discussed, assurances were given that officers would provide a “full update to staff, unions and elected members” if a full closure became necessary. ABC Council has said the position will not be known until the procurement process is complete and the programme has been settled.
The uncertainty means users do not yet have confirmed information about possible disruption during the refurbishment. That detail is expected to follow after the contractor is appointed.
Investment intended to extend the building’s lifespan
The investment was approved by the council in October 2024. When the scheme was reported in February, the estimated cost was £1.8 million; the current tender places the expected cost at about £2.4 million.
A report to the council’s community and wellbeing committee said the investment was needed to maintain the facility and ensure it remained operationally viable. It said Orchard was approaching the end of its useful life and that the programme would extend the building’s lifespan by another five to seven years.
The temporary extension is intended to allow work on a replacement leisure centre to progress. The investment decision followed complaints about the condition of Orchard Leisure Centre and the facilities available to the public.