Client: Falkirk Council

Operator: Falkirk Community Trust

Value: £1.2m

Open Date: February 2020

Alliance Leisure were pleased to complete the £1.2m redevelopment of Mariner Leisure Centre in February 2020 which included Scotland’s first immersive studio.

Falkirk Community Trust, which operates sport, recreation, arts, heritage and library services on behalf of Falkirk Council, appointed leisure development specialist Alliance Leisure to deliver the project under the UK Leisure Framework.

Opened in 1985, the centre had just over 1,000 members when Alliance conducted its initial review of the site in 2019. The company’s latent demand report suggested a membership of more than 1,700 could be achieved by modernising the offer for today’s users.

The first floor of the centre has been redeveloped and now features Scotland’s first fully immersive workout environment, complete with a cinema size screen measuring almost 10m in span 2, top of the range audio and lighting systems and the Les Mills TRIP cycling workout.

The gym has almost doubled in size to 292 sqm, with more than 65 stations, including a Queenax functional training rig, sprint track, free weights, and two Keiser M7i wheelchair-accessible total body trainers.

There is also a newly created group fitness studio, which hosts a full timetable of live and virtual classes to complement the offering.

A separate review, conducted by Alliance Leisure, identified a need for wellness facilities to meet the needs of those not attracted by a traditional fitness offering.

The development therefore also includes a Shapemaster Hub, equipped with 12 pieces of power assisted equipment, which is designed for less mobile users, those who suffer from obesity or illness or are undergoing post-operative rehabilitation. A new office for Falkirk’s physical activity referral programme, Active Forth, will make it easier for the team to help those with more complex health issues to start their fitness journey. 

The project has been funded by Falkirk Council and forms part of wider plans to revitalise the leisure offer in the area.