HRH The Duke of Gloucester celebrates sustainable innovation at Spelthorne’s Eclipse Leisure Centre

During the visit, The Duke toured the state-of-the-art facility, which officially opened in October 2024, and met with a wide range of community users. Highlights of the tour included the Centre’s modern gym, dual swimming pools, sports hall, climbing zone, and rooftop 3G pitches. His Royal Highness also observed activities including a Spelthorne Parkinson’s Group gym session, a U3A Pickleball game, table tennis and a school swim lesson.

The visit concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by The Duke, marking the occasion and recognising Eclipse’s contribution to health, wellbeing, and sustainability in the borough. Developed by Willmott Dixon and designed by GT3 Architects, Eclipse Leisure Centre is one of the world’s most energy-efficient leisure centres, built to rigorous Passivhaus standards. The facility has been engineered to reduce energy consumption by up to 70%, utilising features such as heat recovery systems and water-saving microfiltration technologies.

Earlier this year, the Centre was named Sport & Leisure Facility of the Year by Business Awards UK, in recognition of its innovation, sustainability, and community impact.

Mayor of Spelthorne, Councillor John Doran, said:

“The Eclipse Leisure Centre represents a significant investment in both our community’s wellbeing and our environmental future. It’s a vibrant hub for residents of all ages and abilities, and a benchmark for what sustainable public facilities can achieve. Its energy-efficient design not only reduces our carbon footprint but also demonstrates that environmentally responsible choices can deliver long-term financial benefits.”

Daniel Mouawad, Chief Executive at Spelthorne Borough Council, said:

"Despite challenging times for local government, we remain bold, brave, and innovative demonstrated by the opening of the world’s largest Passivhaus Leisure Centre, which has already earned national recognition for its design and environmental excellence.

This Business Award celebrates the Council’s ambitious vision in delivering one of the most energy-efficient and sustainable leisure centres globally developed through extensive community consultation and with a strong focus on future-proofing the health and well-being of our community.

We were incredibly proud to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO to Eclipse, giving us the opportunity to showcase this landmark project and the positive impact it’s having locally. I would like to thank all colleagues and partners who have been part of this project." 

For more information about Eclipse Leisure Centre, visit:
www.spelthorne.gov.uk/eclipseleisurecentre
www.placesleisure.org/centres/eclipse-leisure-centre/