Expanding Atlantis Leisure’s gym and creating a new wellbeing hub to meet growing community demand for inclusive health and fitness programmes as we continue to support the work of Healthy Options.
Estimated Price
200000
Atlantis Leisure is a vibrant, community-run health and wellbeing hub in the heart of Oban. For over 30 years, we’ve been a lifeline for locals of all ages - a place where toddlers learn to swim, teens train with sports clubs, adults improve their fitness and older residents stay active and connected. As a registered charity and social enterprise, every penny we earn is reinvested into improving our facilities and programmes. Our centre features a swimming pool, gym, sports hall, climbing wall, tennis courts, studios, soft play, and more — all designed to support active, healthy lives. We work hand-in-hand with schools, NHS partners, and community groups to deliver inclusive, high-impact services. Parts of our centre are over 50 years old - this carries a maintenance responsibility which we proudly bear each year because it speaks to how loved and well-used our centre is by the community. With over 150,000 visits a year and no other facility like it within 95 miles, Atlantis isn’t just a leisure centre — it’s the beating heart of our community.
1. What do you want to do?
We propose to expand Atlantis Leisure’s existing gym facilities by constructing a two-storey extension. The ground floor will house an enlarged gym area equipped with modern fitness equipment to accommodate increased user demand. The upper floor will provide flexible office and meeting spaces to support health and wellbeing programmes.
This expansion aims to enhance our capacity to deliver inclusive fitness and wellbeing services, particularly the successful Elevate & Stay Active programme, support the ongoing work of Healthy Options and support individuals managing long-term health conditions.
2. Why is your project needed?
Over the past decade, Atlantis Leisure has been at the forefront of promoting community health in Oban and Lorn. We've supported the ongoing work of Healthy Options, recently adding capcaity by developing their Elevate & Stay Active programmes here at Atlantis. The community's need for accessible health and fitness services is only growing leading to a mirrored expansion in the local faciltiies which support this. Atlantis is the only facility of its kind that can support this work to the level that we are able. Our current gym facilities are operating at full capacity, limiting our ability to accommodate new participants and expand our programmes. The proposed expansion will address this bottleneck, allowing us to serve more community members effectively.
3. What positive changes will your project bring about?
The expanded facilities will:
Increase access to fitness services for all age groups, including those with long-term health conditions.
Provide dedicated spaces for health and wellbeing programmes, fostering a supportive environment for participants.
Enhance community engagement by offering flexible spaces for workshops, meetings, and collaborative initiatives.
Stimulate local employment opportunities through the potential hiring of additional staff and trainers.
4. How long will your project run for?
The project is expected to commence in Autumn 2025, with an estimated duration of 6 months, aiming for completion by March 2026.
