Cascades Leisure Centre, Gravesham

Apr 2023

The Cascades is a new destination community hub aimed at improving the health and well-being of residents by bringing sport, leisure, public and community services together into one exciting building in Gravesend.

The design reflects the requirements for a community hub with the emphasis on family focused sport and fitness offering albeit both the sports hall and main pool include spectator facilities. The main pool itself is equal to regional standard for competition level swimming galas. 

Cascades is also a low carbon project due to Gravesham Council’s Zero Carbon commit for 2030.  The scheme as currently designed will produce only 7% of the C0² produced by the current ageing facility.   The facility will make a significant impact on the entire local authority’s carbon emission as the current centre account for almost 30% of the carbon emissions for the whole authority.

The brief has been subject to incremental change throughout the design process, developing as a consequence of client, operator and stakeholder feedback and now comprises of:

Facilities Mix

– Main entrance public circulation space (pre-turnstile)

– 25m x 8 lane main pool

– 17m x 7m learner pool

– Zero water aqua play and water flumes area

– Poolside steam and sauna

– Spectator seating & casual viewing

– Wet changing village and group changing

– Community rooms

– Soft play & Clip n Climb

– Reception/servery

– Cafe

– 2 x squash courts

– 6 court sports hall

– Sports hall spectator seating

– Dry changing facilities

– 100+ station fitness suite

– Spinning studio (30+ bikes)

– 2 x multi-use studios

– Administrative facilities

– External children’s play facilities

– Outdoor gym

– Outdoor tennis & netball court

– External parking & landscaping