Derby's new Moorways Sports Village unites fitness, sport, wellness and waterplay

The new £42m Moorways Sports Village will open its doors to the public on Saturday 21 May. The community-focused development is the result of a partnership between Derby City Council and Everyone Active – which will run the facility and the adjacent Moorways Stadium with its outdoor athletics track and football pitches.

The sports village, comprising pool, fitness and spa facilities, was designed, developed and built by Bowmer and Kirkland, FaulknerBrowns Architects and Mace.

Water-based leisure facilities are available for all age groups and skill levels. They include a 50m x 25m pool with a moveable floor and booms that can be configured as three 25m pools of varying depths, while the pool hall can accommodate up to 400 spectators for regional events. There's also a 1m-deep teaching pool which can also be used for children’s parties and private hire.

Inclusivity has been designed into the development with the teaching pool having a portable iSwim hoist and a lift that makes the main swimming pool accessible. There's also a Poolpod lift allowing independent entry into the water.

A waterpark ramps up the fun factor and includes a racer slide, two four-story flumes and an aqua play area for children. The park’s pool also generates waves using low energy consumption Waveball technology from the Wow Company. Moorways is currently the only public pool in the UK to have a Wow Waveball.

The fitness offering comprises a 120-station gym and three fitness studios. A spa area with a sauna and steamroom completes the wellness mix. Community is fostered through a cafe area with views over the waterpark and pool, which also has two soft play areas.

“We're delighted to have Derby’s first waterpark to draw in visitors to have fun from across the region", said Claire Davenport, Derby City Council’s director of leisure, culture and tourism. "The café and soft play areas will enable families to make the most of their time here.”

“The high standard of facilities and flexible swimming space will accommodate competitions, club training, lessons and leisure swimmers," she said. "We've delivered a wider vision and have created a real sports village for our city."