The Queen opens £30m Orford Park complex in Warrington
Image: The Queen officially opened Orford Park
The Queen has officially unveiled a new £30m sport, health and education complex that has transformed a former landfill site in the centre of Warrington, Cheshire.
Orford Park has been developed by Warrington Borough Council (WBC) and incorporates a 9,000sq m (96,875sq ft) Sports Hub with facilities such as two swimming pools.
A 75-station fitness suite equipped by Technogym includes the Element and Strength range, as well as the Excite and Cardio range offering the supplier's Visioweb digital platform.
Leisure facilities at the Archial Architects-designed Orford Park also comprise dance studios, squash courts and a sports hall, while it also boasts a library, three GP surgeries and a Diploma Centre for 14-19-year-olds.
A network of walking and cycling paths around new grass sports pitches; skateboarding and BMX cycle park; and upgraded children's play area are among the exterior facilities.
WBC leader Terry O'Neill said: "This is something that will greatly benefit the local community and that the whole borough can be proud of."
Tony Majakas, London 2012-UK project director at Technogym, added: "Orford Park is a great example of how the legacy from the London 2012 Games is benefiting the nation."
A new non-profit trust - LiveWire - will operate Orford Park after being established to run a range of leisure, lifestyle and library services across Warrington.
Details: www.warrington.gov.uk
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by



















