Pictures show progress of new £14m leisure complex with pool, sauna, and gym

Work is well underway on a £14 million five-lane swimming pool, sauna and gym in Thornaby.

Steel has shot up on the land of the now demolished Phoenix House, off Trenchard Avenue, as construction continues on the town’s new leisure facility.

The complex, which will be connected to Thornaby Pavilion, will house a swimming pool, sauna, gym, changing facilities, and a 46-space car park once complete.

The Tees Active-run facility is set to open next summer, with the pool offering more learn-to-swim opportunities for the community and school swimming partnerships.

And now, new drone pictures have shown off major progress at the site, where the building has taken shape and separate floors are now visible.

The new Thornaby leisure centre (Image: PETER REIMANN)

It comes as demolition continues on the eyesore former Golden Eagle hotel next door, with both this and the new pool projects being a part of the Thornaby Town Deal.

The deal focuses on bringing transformational change to the town and tackling long-term empty properties to create development opportunities from £23.9m awarded by the previous government in 2021.

The new leisure facility will be connected to the existing Thornaby Pavilion by a first-floor link bridge when it opens and will boast a new entrance.

The new Thornaby leisure centre (Image: PETER REIMANN)

Phoenix House, formerly home to npower, was demolished in 2023 to make way for the project. It had stood vacant for several years before being purchased and demolished.

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Councillor Richard Eglington, cabinet member for regeneration and housing at the council, previously said: "A new leisure centre in Thornaby Town Centre will not only provide state-of-the-art sports facilities on people’s doorsteps, it will also bring footfall and add vibrancy to the town centre.

"With this addition and the removal of the Golden Eagle, we’re bringing life to a site that has been vacant for a number of years, a key priority for the Town Deal Board.

"The improvements to Thornaby’s cycle network will also help connect the town centre with other key assets in the area, making it easier to commute, get around and support healthier lifestyles."