Full steam ahead for coastal regeneration

The £13.5m leisure and learning centre delivered by contractors ISG, on behalf of Alliance Leisure for East Lindsey District Council, brings a multi-functional community transformation to the Lincolnshire seaside town.

Operated by Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure and Culture, the newly named Station Leisure & Learning Centre is a people—and place-changer, its success testimony to the strength of the relationship between landlord and operator.

Behind the fasciae and footings of this impressive new facility, at its core is community. As you walk around the high-quality facility, you feel the importance of community. Memories of yesteryear and a proud heritage shine bright.

Operators Magna Vitae have sought to capture the nostalgia perfectly. Archive photos of a landmark venue and a former station adorn the walls. The perfect harmony of memories of a place where family and friends would meet, the hustle and bustle of a community coming together, meeting new moments, together paving the way for a new chapter of a community story.

Small touches like the Whistle Stop Bistro, The Signal Box community space, and the names of the exercise rooms—Engine Room One and Engine Room Two—celebrate what may have been lost in the town but not its meaning.

As excitement built, so did the venue, with good communication a central thread in the project’s success. Operators Magna Vitae have ensured this has been a community journey and that residents were on board before the first spade even went into the ground. A steering group of members and non-members proved critical in creating a blueprint of best practices. The result is a place crafted from the foundations of the town’s former station, a true community connector in every sense.

Mablethorpe is among England’s top 10% of deprived areas, with the East Coast experiencing notable health and economic disadvantages. In its programming, Magna Vitae was mindful of adding value and, through consultation with partners, gauging a deep understanding of community perception and barriers to participation.

One such example is the introduction of ‘Supported Swims’ for community health and well-being. As a town, Mablethorpe has been without a swimming pool for many years and, by default, will have a higher-than-average proportion of adult non-swimmers. Aquatics, as a recognised form of low exercise, is a natural tonic for those suffering from chronic illnesses.

The timetable has been crafted carefully, with age labels removed for designated swim times, a fresh approach, and recognising that operators should not dictate what time people can exercise. What was known as an ‘Over 50’s Swim’ is now simply a slower, steadier swim, no pressure, just an opportunity to exercise and socialise as one.

The venue has also considered the needs of young people, investing in designated homework hubs instead of vending machines, understanding the importance of providing access to quiet spaces, and MagnaTag, an exciting new digitalised game and obstacle arena, providing all weather entertainment and escapism.