Why is Helensburgh Leisure Centre closed?
The ferocity of Storm Eowyn caused significant damage to Helensburgh Leisure Centre in January 2025. This red weather event was unprecedented and resulted in around 60% of the roof being damaged. The severity of the storm, combined with heavy rainfall, led to widespread internal water damage throughout the ground and first floor of the building. On the ground floor, significant damage occurred in the entrance foyer, café seating and viewing area, servery, reception, retail area, main stairwell, toilets, storerooms, and staff facilities. The first floor was severely impacted too with damage to the seating area, small meeting and exercise room, lift, gym, gym consultation room, gym foyer, studios one and two, equipment storage rooms, foyer areas, changing rooms, and the central viewing corridor.
What work is required to re-open the building?
Given the scale of the storm damage, we need to fully replace the roofing system. To restore the facility to a safe and operational condition, substantial remedial works are necessary. These include the renewal or replacement of mechanical and electrical systems throughout, repair and reinstatement of damaged fixtures and fittings, and comprehensive refurbishment of affected interior finishes, such as wall coverings and flooring. The scope of work spans all damaged areas, including public spaces, staff facilities, activity rooms, circulation areas, and building services infrastructure.
These works must be completed in full before the building can safely re-open to the public.
Who will pay for the repairs and who is carrying them out?
The building is insured and we have been liaising with our loss adjustor and insurers throughout the process. We also have appointed specialist loss adjusters, who are part of the repair team.
We appointed hub North Scotland as the development partner for Helensburgh Leisure Centre, to manage and deliver the works to replace the centre’s roof and other repairs.
As a development partner, hub North Scotland is providing project management and working collaboratively with developers, builders, and their supply chain partners, Galliford Try FM and Curtis Moore, to advance the works.
Why is it taking this amount of time to repair?
Work started immediately following the storm. Initially we had to clear debris from the wider area. Extensive remedial work has been underway since the morning after the storm, although much of this activity may not have been visible to the public. The initial phase alone required approximately two months, during which the site was made safe and essential damage assessments were carried out to determine the scope of roofing repairs required. Throughout this process, we have worked closely with insurers and loss adjusters to ensure a robust and fully evidenced approach to restoration.
Given the scale of the damage, the repair programme has been highly complex. A bespoke scaffolding structure approximately 220 metres in length - equivalent to two full-size football pitches laid end to end—was required to enable safe access to the building. This structure had to be custom designed to accommodate the unique characteristics of the site, including spanning the flood defence rock armour.
Once the building was stabilised, a specialist rainwater capture system was installed to prevent further internal deterioration. At the same time, we advanced the technical design for the replacement roof and procured key long-lead components, such as the roofing system itself, to enable works for the reconstruction of the permanent roof to commence in January 2026.
In addition, the Council is required to demonstrate value for money and comply with public sector procurement regulations. As a result, the competitive tendering, contract award, and mobilisation stages took several months to complete. These steps, while time-consuming, were essential to ensuring a compliant, efficient, and high-quality delivery of the repair works
When will the leisure centre re-open?
We are committed to opening the building as soon as it is safe and practicable. We have carried out a range of detailed condition surveys, including an internal Building Condition Survey and a Mechanical and Electrical Condition Survey. We are also in the process of undertaking fire assessment surveys and inspections of structural steel work.
We are reviewing the survey findings, and although we are making good progress, given the scale of repair needed to reopen safely, and the complexity of the issues which are arising, our original estimated re-opening of the end of March will not be met.
We are currently addressing several complexities, including the re-design of the roof, the time required to install extensive scaffolding, and the lead time needed to procure materials. This has all contributed to the original provisional date being extended.
At this stage, we cannot provide an alternative opening date as key survey and tendered work is still ongoing, but we are continuing to work with our insurer and contractors to do everything we can to re-open the centre as soon as possible. We will provide further information as soon as it is available.
Are temporary arrangements in place for the leisure facilities?
Yes. Together with our partners at liveArgyll, we were able to set up a temporary gym and library, and fitness classes are being run in alternative locations. Find more details about this on the liveArgyll website. Insurance money has funded the setting up of these temporary facilities.
Where can I find more information about the repairs?
You can find regular updates about the progress of the project through our leisure centre updates.
