Manor Park is to get a new gym after Newham Council’s Cabinet gave the go-ahead to release the funding for the project today (September 16).
The £2.6m state-of-the-art facility will boast 100 workout machines and exercise stations as well studio space, over two floors, opening in Spring 2025.
Expected to serve 1,700 customers, the gym addresses Manor Park's lack of quality fitness facilities.GLL, the local authority’s leisure operator, will run the centre alongside the council's three existing leisure facilities.
The investment pays for itself - reducing council management fees and generating £2.6m income from 2030 onwards, with no further running costs.
The gym replaces the former Greenhill fitness centre, closed for area regeneration.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said: "This is a landmark day for Manor Park residents who have shown incredible patience while we worked to bring them the quality leisure facilities they deserve.
"This gym represents everything we stand for: listening to our communities, investing in local infrastructure, and ensuring no area gets left behind. When it opens next year, families will have an amazing new space to stay active without having to travel miles for decent facilities.
"I'm particularly proud that this project shows how we can be ambitious for our residents while being smart with public money. This is the kind of forward-thinking investment that makes Newham a better place to live, work and raise a family."
Cllr Rita Chadha, Cabinet Member for Health & Adult Social Care and Transforming Newham for the Future, said: "This fantastic new gym is a real win-win for Manor Park residents. We're thrilled to be working with GLL, who've been outstanding partners in bringing our Healthier Newham and Ageing Well strategy to life.
“This gym will be a real game-changer for improving healthy life expectancy, boosting life satisfaction, and creating a stronger, more connected community where people feel less isolated and more energised about their wellbeing."
With the site facing an empty future if no action was taken, Cabinet approved funding through £2.1m from the capital programme and an additional £490,000 from the government's Levelling Up Fund for community infrastructure.
