Gympanzees has appointed Oakland Construction to undertake the first stage of building works for the new Gympanzees Centre. This initial phase will involve demolishing the existing internal walls and ceilings on the ground floor of the former service station in Aust, creating an empty space that will prepare for the construction of eleven fully-inclusive rooms and spaces that will make Gympanzees.
To create an inclusive design that was right for the families, working with architects the team knew that bringing down the walls would be a vital first step towards building the UK’s first fully accessible leisure facility. Oakland Construction will also be working with the design team and architects to get the building ready for the enabling works, ready for the refit of the centre later this year.
Fran Garland, Chief Operations Officer at Gympanzees, said, “When we set out to find a construction company for this stage, we knew we needed a team that fully understood what we are trying to achieve and understood the unique nature of the project. We could see that Oakland understood our vision and the necessity of the planned work. It’s fantastic to have them on board, and we’re excited to see the first walls come down in the next few weeks!”
Since 2018, Gympanzees has welcomed over 28,000 visitors who have enjoyed the unique, life-changing benefits of accessible fun and fitness at temporary pop-ups during the Easter and Summer holidays. Once the Gympanzees centre opens, families will be able to access Gympanzees 364 days a year, 7 days a week.
“This is a huge moment for our team but also for the families that use us. This is a day we have been waiting for since the first Gympanzees Pop Up”.
Tom Lee-Fox, Managing Director at Oakland Construction Ltd said, “We do not see this as just another construction project, but an opportunity to be part of Gympanzees journey and to make a difference to the lives of the amazing, warm people who both work for and are supported by Gympanzees – we cannot wait to get started!”.
Work on the Gympanzees site is due to commence at the end of January. Once open, Gympanzees expect over 200,000 visits from disabled children, young people and their families every year.
We’re over halfway to the £8 million needed for the centre but we still have a long way to go. Support our appeal so we can open our doors to families by June 2026.
