North Herts District Council has entered into a ten-year partnership with Everyone Active to run five of its leisure centres from 1 April.

The facilities were previously run by trust, Stevenage Leisure Ltd (SLL).

The contract covers North Herts Leisure Centre in Letchworth, one of the first leisure centres in the UK, which was built by Module 2 and opened by the Queen in February 1982, as well as Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre, including Archers Health Club, Royston Leisure Centre, Letchworth Lido and Fearnhill Sports Centre.

A wide range of refurbishments and reprogramming are planned across the sites, including a full gym refurbishment at North Herts Leisure Centre this July.

Hitchin Swimming Centre and Archers Health Club will benefit from a full gym refurbishment in spring 2025. A new group cycling studio will be added at Royston Leisure Centre this summer, followed by a new gym and dance studio in autumn 2025.

Regional director at Everyone Active, Duncan Jefford, says: “The fantastic centres within this contract are so important for the health and wellbeing in local communities and with plenty of exciting developments in the pipeline, we're incredibly privileged to be chosen to manage them. We look forward to creating a close, impactful relationship with the council in the coming years, alongside helping people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to get active.”

North Herts Council’s deputy executive member for leisure, Mick Debenham, says: “In deciding on the contract award, we evaluated the cost and quality aspects of the bids, alongside the social value which they will bring. Everyone Active offered the most financially advantageous bid and also excelled in terms of quality of service and innovation.”

Everyone Active is on a roll, having just taken over the prestigious contract to operate the London Aquatics Centre under an eight-year agreement.