Plymouth Life Centre’s new climbing facilities unveiled

New renders of the proposed state-of-the-art climbing facilities at the Plymouth Life Centre have been released for the first time showing the climbing walls and aerial assault course being built.

Five separate areas are being created for the city’s new leisure complex including three climbing walls, a bouldering area and an aerial assault course, offering experiences for beginners through to professional and elite sportspeople.

The planned new facility will be the largest of its type south of Bristol and will make the £46.5 million development in Plymouth one of the best-equipped climbing centres in the South West. Entre-prises (UK) Ltd is the company chosen to supply the high-tech equipment to fit-out the Plymouth Life Centre.

A total of 870 square metres of climbing is being provided – a 16-metre high competition/advanced wall for intermediate and advanced climbers, a six-metre high novice wall, a four-metre high central bouldering wall and a 10-metre high section that replicates the look and feel of the granite rock features, typically found on nearby Dartmoor and sea cliffs.

The aerial assault, high-ropes course will span 26 metres suspended in the air and consists of six individual elements – Wind Chimes, Jacob’s Traverse, Crawl Tunnel, Islands in the Sky, Spider’s Web and Net Crawl. This is aimed at all ages and abilities including disabled users, who can be assisted by an instructor.

Peter Brookshaw, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Sport said: “Climbing is for everyone and the great thing about these facilities at the Plymouth Life Centre is that they will have a multi-functional use – this includes being suitable for national-level competitions, personal training, children, birthday parties, company team building events and youth groups. This is something that’s very different to aquatics and it goes to show that the Plymouth Life Centre will offer much more than just swimming and diving.”

The design of the facilities makes best use of the space available and will also provide opportunities for schools to teach GCSE-level rock climbing, as well as promote the National Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme. The University of Plymouth is also expected to use the climbing walls.

Rob Adie, Climbing Development Officer for the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) added: “Indoor climbing is now a sport in its own right and we’re seeing a massive growth the number of people participating, like in other sports where there are national competitions and accreditation. The facilities at the Plymouth Life Centre will be great because they can be used by those who want to get into climbing and those who already climb. We hope that this encourages even more people to get into the sport, as a result of what’s being provided here.”

Colin Boothroyd, Managing Director of the supplier Entre-prises commented: “We’re delighted to be involved in the Plymouth Life Centre development, providing a design and high-quality facilities that will result in a very unique and exciting climbing venue in the South West. The design will hopefully offer staff many different options for teaching the rules and techniques of climbing, as well as a state-of-the-art environment in which to take part in this growing sport.”

More information about Plymouth’s Life Centre can be found at www.plymouth.gov.uk/lifecentre.