Britannia Leisure Centre

Britannia Leisure Centre is an inclusive new leisure facility that is transforming health and wellbeing in Hackney, London.

The project combines a 25m swimming pool, a training pool, toddler pool and splash deck. Alongside the aquatics, the centre provides a gym, sports courts and pitches, a soft play area, creche and café in an innovative stacked arrangement.

Britannia is part of a wider, mixed-use masterplan alongside Shoreditch Park and was designed with the local community from the outset, prioritising accessibility, social value and sustainability. The result is London’s most inclusive centre for community leisure.

Summary:
Community leisure centre in Hackney

Location:
London, England

Size:
8,069m²

Budget:
£42,500,000

Client:
London Borough of Hackney

Construction:
January 2019

Opening:
July 2021

Britannia is a visible embodiment of our commitment to rebuild a fairer Hackney. It is a fantastic, state-of-the-art and truly inclusive building.

Philip Glanville,
Mayor of Hackney

Encouraging Participation

Britannia is designed to improve community health by encouraging more people to get involved with sport. Key spaces are stacked vertically, creating long views over Shoreditch Park from the pools, fitness studios and rooftop tennis and 5-a-side courts – views that encourage people to return.

The most visually dynamic uses are positioned around the perimeter to make them highly visible from the outside. A neutral material and colour palette and a civic rhythm to the facades allow the activities and people within to provide character, animating the streetscape in Shoreditch and inviting others in.

Britannia Leisure Centre Hackney London Community Slide Outside Perspective L
Britannia Leisure Centre Hackney London Exterior Windows Angled Shot Sp
Britannia Leisure Centre Hackney London Community Shoreditch Park Infront Of Building Bright L

Community Impact

We engaged school children, students, local sports teams and local trusts in design consultations to shape a leisure centre that would reflect one of London’s most diverse boroughs. The centre incorporates features such as inclusive and accessible changing areas, pool pods for wheelchair and ambulant users and a pool with sensory light features.

The result is a welcoming building that has had a real impact on health and wellbeing in the community. By ensuring sport and movement are accessible to all, Britannia has increased local participation in fitness, swimming and sports by more than 160%.

This building had inclusivity embedded into the design at every step.

Judging panel,
The AJ100 Awards

Awards

  • New London Architecture Awards 2022
    Overall Building of the Year
  • New London Architecture Awards 2022
    Cultural Building of the Year
  • AJ Architecture Awards 2022
    Leisure Category - Highly Commended
  • AJ100 Awards 2022
    Community Impact of the Year
  • ukactive Awards 2022
    New Concept, Build or Design of the Year
  • Structural Steel Design Awards 2022
    Commendation
  • LABC Building Excellence Awards 2022
    Best Non-residential New Build
  • UK Pool and Spa Awards 2022
    Water Leisure Venue of the Year

Press

News Britannia wins AJ100 Community Impact of the Year
Project Kingston Community Centre
News Britannia Leisure Centre wins overall at the New London Awards