Castle Leisure Centre 

Castle Leisure Centre: A Vital Community Hub at the Heart of Elephant & Castle’s Regeneration.

The Castle Leisure Centre in South London, part of the Southwark masterplan, is a key project revitalizing the Elephant and Castle area. This vibrant centre offers top-notch sports and leisure facilities and integrates well with public open spaces like the updated St Mary’s Churchyard and its children’s play area.

The centre features a six-lane, 25-meter swimming pool, a teaching pool with a movable floor, and a four-court sports hall. It also includes a modern fitness gym, an indoor cycle studio, and two exercise/dance studios. Additional amenities like a crèche and a café make it family-friendly. The design ensures full accessibility for all visitors.

The centre’s transparent design allows internal activities to be visible from the outside, with a prominent entrance that encourages community engagement. The ‘pin wheel’ layout arranges facilities around a central, naturally lit courtyard. This layout provides views into the pools and gym, creating spaces for gatherings and relaxation.

The building’s massing transitions smoothly with the surrounding architecture, offering views of St Mary’s Churchyard and visibility from Newington Butts. Rising to about four storeys, it complements nearby residential towers while respecting the scale of Victorian housing in the area.

Results

Since its completion in 2016, Castle Leisure Centre has become a vibrant community hub, promoting active lifestyles and supporting the broader regeneration goals of Southwark Borough Council. 

May 2016