Major £650k Refurbishment Announced For Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre Gym.

A £650,000 refurbishment is set to transform the gym at Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre next month, bringing state of the art equipment, a redesigned layout and improved accessibility for thousands of local members.

The major investment comes as the popular Hornchurch facility marks five years since opening its doors in 2021. Since then, the centre has grown into a key community hub and now supports more than 6,500 fitness members from across Havering.

The project is being jointly funded by leisure operator Everyone Active and Havering Council.

As part of the upgrade, the gym will undergo a comprehensive refurbishment and be fitted with a brand new range of Life Fitness cardio, resistance and strength machines. These will include new treadmills, cross trainers and bikes, along with plate loaded and pin loaded machines, free weights, squat racks and lifting stations.

The layout of the gym floor will also be reconfigured to make better use of the space and improve the flow between training areas.

To help shape the refurbishment plans, a detailed utilisation survey was carried out using TrackMyGym sensor technology attached to equipment across the gym floor. The technology recorded which machines were used the most and which were used less frequently. The results, along with feedback from members, helped determine the final equipment mix and layout.

Accessibility has also been a key focus of the redesign. New wheelchair accessible equipment will include a chest press, seated row and shoulder press, a SkiErg with a wide base and extended handles, a hand bike and additional accessible dual adjustable pulley cable machines.

Alongside the new equipment, the entire gym will receive a full makeover, including modern flooring, upgraded lighting and refreshed décor to create a brighter and more motivating workout environment.

The gym will temporarily close from 30 March and reopen on 15 April while the works take place.

During this time, members will be able to use alternative facilities at Sapphire Ice and Leisure, Central Park Leisure Centre, Rainham Leisure Centre, Abbs Cross Leisure Centre, Becontree Heath Leisure Centre and The Brentwood Centre.

Tom Fletcher, Area Contract Manager at Everyone Active, said they were thrilled to be making the significant investment as the centre celebrates five successful years since opening.

He said the refurbishment reflects the strong demand the facility is seeing and the commitment to continue investing in the site. He added that alongside installing brand new equipment, the layout will be reconfigured to make better use of the available space and increase the amount of strength equipment to meet growing demand in that area. He said the changes will ensure the gym continues to meet the needs of members now and in the future.

Councillor Gillian Ford, Deputy Leader of Havering Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said the council was delighted to be working with Everyone Active on the major refurbishment.

She said that since opening five years ago the centre has become a hugely valued community asset, helping thousands of residents lead healthier and more active lives.

Councillor Ford added that the investment will bring the latest fitness equipment to the borough while also delivering a more accessible, inclusive and future proofed space for everyone, from beginners to experienced gym users. She said the council looks forward to welcoming members back into a transformed gym in April.

The rest of the leisure centre will remain open as normal during the refurbishment. However, as the group cycling studio is accessed via the gym, it will also be closed while the works are carried out.

Stay up to date with all of our latest updates and content by following us on our social media accounts!

We have created community pages where we will share our up-to-date stories happening in the area. Add the area closest to where you live.